♦ J LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 529 600 



iiii^i^ 



THE 



* BOOK OF THE NAVY; 



c o M r R I s I N a 

A GENERAL HISTORY 

OF 

THE AMERICAN MARINE; 

AND PARXrcULAR ACCOUNTS 

OF ALL THE MOST CELEBRATED 

NAVAL BATTLES, 

FROM THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES, 

BY JOHN FROST, A. M. 

PROiEbSOfi OF BELLES LETTRES, IN TME HIGH SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA. 

WITH AN APPENDIX. 

SPLENDIDLY EMBELLISHED WITH 

NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS FROM ORIGINAL DRAWmGS, 
BY WILLIAM GROOM E, 

AND PORTHAITS ON STEEL OF DISTINGUISHED NAVAL C0MAIANDER8. 



NEW YORK: 
D. APPLETON & COMPANY. 

MDCCCXLII. 



Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 

D. APPLETON &, CO. 

in the ofiicc of the clerk of the district court of the United States in and 
for the southern district of New York. 






- -A 



THE HONOURABLE 



ABEL P. UPSHUR, 



SECRETARY OF 



THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES, 



THIS VOLUME IS, 



WITH PERMISSION, 



H E s p c c t £ II 1 1 i» E 11 s c ri fa c H 



BY THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 

It has been well remarked, thai " in a nation s 
career, a slorious past is the best guarantee of a glo- 
rious fiiture."' The preservation of a high-toned 
national spirit has been an object of especial care 
with every great and commanding empire, and this 
object can only be attained by cherishing the fame 
of the heroes and statesmen who have defended and 
troverned their couutrv, in times of peril and emer- 
gency. Bv giving the due meed of praise for great 
actions, — bv recording the history of every brilliant 
pubUc service, and placing it before the people in a 
popular and attractive form. — the spirit of noble 
emulation is kept alive : and the arm of youthful 
patriotism is nerved for fresh encounters with toil 
and danger for the pubUc weal. 

Convinced of this truth, the author of the follow- 
ing work has attempted to do justice to the valor 
and patriotism of the naval heroes of the Republic, 
by presenting a simple and intelligible narrative of 
their noble achievements. Of the accomplishment 
of this task, the people must judge for themselves. 



VI PREFACE. 

When war was destroying our commerce and 
desolating our shores, the Navy was the cherished 
favorite of the people : for it was felt to be the 
right arm of national defence. Ten years of peace 
and prosperity caused the deeds of our gallant tars 
to be half forgotten ; and fifteen years of political 
strife succeeding thereto, appear to have thrown 
them completely in the background. Recently, 
threats of another war have made men begin to look 
around them for the means of resenting insult and 
repelling invasion ; and the Navy is once more rising 
in popular favor. 

If the following record of the ''glorious past" of 
our Navy can in any measure aid in speeding it 
onward to a " glo7'ious future" the author will be 
amply rewarded for the labor it has cost him. 

Philadelphia, July, 1842. 

The Naval Songs in the appendix have been inserted chiefly with a 
view to exhibit the state of national feeling with regard to ihe ]Nra\y, 
in the time of the last war. The poetry, to be sure, is not always of 
the highest order ; but the sentiment is patriotic and fervent. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 
Sketch of the Early History of the Navy Page 9 

CHAPTER n. 
Commencement of the Revolutionary War 15 

CHAPTER III. 
Continuation of the Revolutionary War. Naval Campaign of 1776 
continued 28 

CHAPTER IV. 
Revolutionary War continued. Naval Campaigns of 1777 and 1778 36 

CHAPTER V. 
Revolutionary War continued. Naval Campaigns of 1778 and 1779 46 

CHAPTER VI. 
Revolutionary War continued. Naval Campaign of 1780 and 1781 63 

CHAPTER VII. 
Resuscitation of the Navy. Difficulties with the Barbary Povpers. . 71 

CHAPTER VIII. 
French War of 1798 78 

CHAPTER IX. 
War with Tripoli 91 

CHAPTER X. 
Affairs of the Chesapeake and Little Belt 114 

CHAPTER XI. 
Mr. Jefferson's Gun-boat System. Commencement of the War of 1812 120 

CHAPTER XII. 
Cruise of the Essex 162 

(7) 



• 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Naval Campaign of 1813 continued 176 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Cruise and Capture of the Argus. Capture of the Boxer 188 

CHAPTER XV. 
Perry's Victory on Lake Erie 194 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Commencement of tlie Naval Campaign of 1814. Capture of the 
Epervier and Reindeer 221 

CHAPTER XVII. 
M'Donough's Victory on Lake Champlain 230 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Defeat of the Endymion. Capture of the President Frigate 238 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Capture of the Penguin 244 

CHAPTER XX. 
Services of Captain Stewart, in the Frigate Constitution — Capture 
of the Cyane and Levant 251 

CHAPTER XXI. 
War witli Algiers, 1815 256 

CHAPTER XXII. 
Recent History and Present Condition of the Navy 270 



APPENDIX. 

Naval Anecdotrs 277 

Naval and Patriotic Song.s 301 

Chronological Table , 329 





CHAPTER I. 

Sketch of the Early History of the Navy. 
(HERE is no species of historical wri- 
ting more generally interesting, we 
had almost said, more certainly use- 
ful, than that which records the heroic 
deeds, and commemorates the exalted 
virtues of that hardy and chivalrous 
race of men " whose home is on the 
deep." 

The intense interest excited by the 
development of traits of individual 
character, and the display of extra- 
ordinary personal qualities, is, in this 
case, greatly heightened by the mag- 
nificent theatre of action, as well as 
the uncommon nature of the scenes exhibited. To the lands- 
man, the ocean, with all its wonders, is a new and unex- 
plored world, and the men who inhabit it — with their 

(9) 



10 THE BOOK OF THE NAVY. 

peculiar language, and singular habits and manners — a 
strange race, the subjects of never-ending speculation and 
wonder. When to this is added, that the ocean is the com- 
mon highway of nations — the great mart where, in times of 
peace, men of all countries and languages, and of every va- 
riety of manners, habits and opinions, meet together in har- 
monious intercourse — and where, in war, the fiercest passions 
and most exalted virtues of our nature are alternately dis- 
played — it is not at all to be wondered at, that naval 
histories should, at all times, be found to contain deeply in- 
teresting portions of the annals of mankind. It is nowise 
surprising that the love of the marvellous, so deeply im- 
planted in the bosom of man, should find a gratification in 
contemplating the character of the gallant tar, and should 
view it, with all its hardihood, indifference to danger, and 
generosity, as scarcely inferior to any that is produced in 
the best constructed tales of poetry or romance. 

We should suppose, reasoning a priori, that the Ameri- 
cans, descended from the greatest commercial nation in the 
world — bringing with them all the propensities of a com- 
mercial people, and extensively engaged themselves, almost 
from the first moment of their settlement, in commercial 
pursuits — would, in imitation of the mother country, as 
well as from obvious considerations of policy, have seized 
the earliest opportunity of laying the foundation of a navy, 
to vvhich they had been accustomed to look, as the only 
^safeguard of commerce, and for the creation of which their 
country afforded such admirable materials. Why this was 
not the case, can only be accounted for from the pervading 
sense of the immense power of the British navy, against the 
permanent supremacy of which, it was considered altogether 
hopeless to struggle. Though the framers of the Constitu- 
tion confided to the Federal Government the power " to pro- 
vide and maintain a navy," yet there is nothing in the his- 
tory of the times to induce a belief, that it was in their con- 
templation, that measures should be immediately taken to 
create one — certain it is that no such measures were adopted 



ORKilN OF THE NAVY. 11 

or even proposed ; and, on a careful examination, we think 
it will be found, that until the year 1811, the policy of lay- 
ing the deep and broad foundation of such an establishment 
was never decisively adopted by the United States. In 
taking a retrospect of the history of the country during the 
Revolution, and for a considerable time afterwards, we are 
forcibly struck by the fact, that no attempt was made to call 
forth its naval resources, except for temporary purposes; 
and then only under the pressure of great emergencies. As 
the most pressing exigencies could alone rouse the country 
to the employment of naval means, so when these passed 
away, our vessels of war were suffered to rot, and we re- 
lapsed into a state of total indifference on the subject. In 
fact, if the people of the United States had actually set out 
with the belief that a navy was in all respects useless, we 
aver that just such a course must have been, as actually 
was pursued, in relation to " this right arm of the national 
defence." 

It will be found on examination, that for a great many 
years, nothing was ever voluntarily done for the navy. 
That the navy has, in fact, done every thing for itself, and 
may almost be said " to have been its own architect." The 
first measure adopted during the war of the Revolution, for 
awakening the naval spirit of the country, was the employ- 
ment of two small vessels, one of 10 and the other of 14 
guns, for the purpose of intercepting certain transports la- 
den with munitions of war, and bound either to Canada or 
Boston. For the purpose of carrying this object into effect, 
a committee of three members of Congress, consisting of 
Messrs. Dean, Langdon, and Gadsden, were appointed^-in 
October, 1775. To this committee, subsequently enlarged 
to thirteen, was committed the general superintendence and 
direction of the navy. Soon after this, it was resolved by 
Congress to build thirteen vessels, principally for the purpose 
of destroying the merchant-ships of the enemy engaged in 
bringing supplies to their fleets and armies. From this pe- 
riod to the end of the war, the administration of the navy 



12 THE NAVY OF THE REVOLUTION. 

department underwent frequent changes. In November, 
1776, "three persons, well skilled in maritime affairs," 
were appointed to execute the business of the navy, under 
the direction of the marine committee. This system con- 
tinued till October,1779, when Congress established a " Board 
of Admiralty," consisting of three commissioners, hot mem- 
bers of Congress, and two members of Congress. In 1781, 
" an agent of marine" was appointed, with full authority 
" to direct, fit out, equip, and employ the ships and vessels 
of war of the United States, under such instructions as he 
should from time to time receive from Congress." On the 
6th of September of the same year, the duties prescribed to 
the agent of marine were devolved on Robert Morris, super- 
intendent of finance, who, it is stated by Mr. Goldsborough, 
" appears to have had the chief agency in the civil adminis- 
tration of the navy during the greater part of the Revolu- 
tion." The largest vessels of war put into commission dur- 
ing the Revolution, were frigates of the second class. One 
ship to be called the America, and rated at 74 guns (though 
subsequently ordered to be armed with 56) was indeed built, 
but she was not completed till 1781, when John Paul Jones 
was elected by Congress to command her ; she was never, 
however, put into commission, being on the 3d of September, 
1782, presented to his Most Christian Majesty, "in testimony 
of the sense entertained by Congress of his generous exer- 
tions in behalf of the United States, and to replace the Mag- 
nifique of 74 guns, lost in the harbour of Boston." 

The greatest number of vessels at any one time, in the 
service of Congress during the Revolution (exclusive of gal- 
leys and cutters) was twenty-five (employed in the year 
1776) of which there were five frigates of 32 guns, twelve 
vessels from 24 to 28 guns, and eight mounting from 10 to 
16 guns. And though several additional vessels were sub- 
sequently built, yet at no period during the war was its 
strength increased, its losses exceeding the inconsiderable 
additions made to it from time to time. The following is a 
list of the Captains appointed to command these vessels, 



BRITISH MERCHANTMEN CAPTURED. 13 

according to the rank assigned to them under the resolution 
of Congress of April, 1776, viz : — John B. Hopkins, Sam- 
uel Tomkins, Charles Miller, Nicholas Biddle, John Barry, 
Thomas Read, Charles Alexander, and James Nicholson.* 
In October 1776, the whole number of Captains was 24; 
James Nicholson being the senior. The primary object to 
which the naval force was devoted, was to intercept trans- 
ports laden with supplies for the British army — which, be- 
sides depriving the enemy of their resources, was of vast 
importance to the colonies in furnishing them with arms, 
ammunition and clothing, of which they were nearly des- 
titute. At a later period the naval force seems to have 
acted in conjunction with the numerous privateers which 
issued from every port against the commerce of the enemy, 
and with such decided effect, that it has been estimated that 
the number of captures in the course of the war amounted 
to 803, of which there were re-taken or lost 153, leaving a 
gain to the United States of 650, the value of which is es- 
timated at eleven millions of dollars. This estimate must 
be considered as greatly below the real value, when we find 
it stated in the British publications of that day, that the 
number of English vessels employed in the West India trade 
alone, captured by the American cruisers up to February, 
1777, amounted to 250, which, with their cargoes, were 
valued at ten millions of dollars. We have, indeed, authen- 
tic lists of upwards of 800 vessels captured during the years 
1776 and 1777. It is also stated by Gordon, that of the 
200 ships employed by the English in the African trade at 
the commencement of the war, valued at eight millions of 
dollars, only 40 remained at the close of the year 1777. f 

The history of the naval operations of the American 
Revolutionary War consists chiefly of details of actions, 
singly of very trifling importance ; but which, taken in the 
aggregate, contributed greatly to the grand result. It 
would appear that there was a simultaneous movement in 

* Journals of Congress, vol. ii. p. 208. "" 
t Southern Review, Nov. 1828. 



14 



NEGLECT OF THE NAVY. 



every part of the American waters, where sailors were to 
be found, to annoy the enemy to the utmost extent which 
their very limited means allowed. This desultory warfare, 
however, was conducted with so much spirit, that it often 
led to the happiest results, bringing in supplies and muni- 
tions of war from captured ships, at critical moments, when 
they were greatly needed by the army. 

Towards the close of the revolutionary war, the formation 
of a treaty with France, and the presence of a formidable 
French fleet on our coasts, led to the neglect of the navy, 
which was suffered to dwindle away, until finally, on the 
restoration of peace, the whole of the ships built or purchased 
during the war, had either been captured or destroyed by 
the enemy, or sold by the United States. When the Alli- 
ance, the last of these vessels, was sold (on the 3d of June, 
1785,) the United States did not, it is believed, own a^in- 
gle vessel of war. It was not until the year 1790,. when 
our difficulties with the Barbary powers had become serious, 
that the attention of the nation was again directed to the 
navy. 

In the next chapter we shall notice some of the most re- 
markable exploits of our naval heroes, during the War of 
Independence. 




AFFAIR OF THE GASPEE. 



15 



CHAPTER II 



Commencement of the Revolutionary War. 




SIMILAR spirit to 
that which actuated the 
first operations of the 
Americans, in the war 
of independence, on land, 
prompted their early 
warlike enterprises at 
sea. It was, in both 
cases, the rising en masse 
— the movement of the 
people in their original 
and elemental capacity, 
resisting oppression, and 
annoying the oppressor 
by any means that were within their reach, whenever an 
opportunity for* action presented itself. The great activity 
of the colonists, in every species of maritime enterprise, 
which had been one of the most striking features in their 
character from the first settlement of the country, rendered 
them capable of doing eflScient service in a naval war, so far 
as courage, capacity and zeal could ensure success. But 
the inefficient policy of Congress, to which we have already 
adverted, prevented that systematic and combined action,' 
which was necessary to give complete efficiency to a national 
force. The spirit of the people, however, could not be re- 
pressed by any adverse circumstances. It broke out even 
before the battle of Lexington. An affair which took place 
in the waters of Rhode-Island, nearly three years before 
that event,' shows the spirit of the colonists. 

The commander of the Gaspee, an armed British schooner 
stationed at Providence, had been very assiduous in support- 



16 AFFAIR OF THE GASPEE. 

ipg the trade laws, and excited additional resentment by 
^firing at the Providence packets, in order to compel them to 
salute his flag, by lowering theirs, as they passed his vessel, 
and by chasing them, even into the docks, in case of refusal. 
On the 17th of June, 1772, the master of the packet Han- 
nah, conveying passengers to Providence, which was fired 
at and chased by the Gaspee for neglecting to pay the re- 
quisite tribute of respect, took advantage of the state of the 
tide (it being almost high water), to stand in so closely to 
the shore, that the Gaspee, in the pursuit, might be exposed 
to~run aground. The artifice succeeded ; the Gaspee pre- 
sently stuck fast, and the packet proceeded in triumph to 
Providence, where a strong sensation was excited by the 
tidings of the occurrence, and a project was hastily formed 
to improve the blow, and destroy the obnoxious vessel. Mr. 
Brown, a considerable merchant of Providence, and Captain 
Whipple, who afterwards held a commission from Congress, 
took the lead in this bold adventure, and easily collected a 
strong body of armed and resolute men, with whom they 
embarked in whale-boats, to attack the British ship of war. 
At two o'clock the next morning they boarded the Gaspee, 
so suddenly, and in such numbers, that her crew were in- 
stantly overpowered, without hurt to any one, except her 
commanding officer, who was wounded. The captors having 
despatched a part of their number to convey him, together 
with his private effects and his crew, ashore, set fire to the 
Gaspee, and destroyed her, with all her stores. The issue 
of this daring act of war, against the forces of the king, was 
as remarkable as the enterprise itself The British govern- 
ment offered a reward of five hundred pounds, together with 
a pardon, if claimed by an accomplice, for the discovery and 
apprehension of any person concerned in the traitorous at- 
tack upon the Gaspee ; and a commission, under the great 
seal of England, appointed Wanton, the governor of Rhode- 
Island, Peter Oliver, the new chief-justice of Massachusetts, 
Achmuty, the judge-admiral of America, and certain other 

* Graham's United States, vol. iv., p. 319. 



STATE OF NAVAL AFFAIRS. 17 

persons to preside upon the trial of the offenders ; but \\o 
trial took place. Nobody came forward to claim the prof- 
fered reward : some persons who were apprehended in the 
hope that they might be induced by threats and terror to 
become witnesses, were enabled by popular assistance to 
escape before any information could be extracted from them ; 
and in the commencement of the following year, the com- 
missioners reported to the British ministry their inability 
to procure evidence or information against a single indi- 
vidual.* 

When the battle of Lexington had placed the colonies in 
an attitude of open hostility towards the mother country. 
Congress, instead of authorizing the fitting out of privateers 
and letters of marque, confined its orders to the capture of 
vessels bringing stores and munitions of war to the British 
forces in America. Massachusetts, the champion colony' 
of the revolution, established courts of admiralty, and fitted 
out ships under her own authority. Other colonies followed 
her example ; but when, at length, the hardy tars of the 
country were freed from all restraint, and every species of 
naval warfare was fully authorized, their success in captur- 
ing the enemy's cruiser's as well as her merchantmen, af- 
forded a significant augury of the future glory of the Ame- 
rican Navy. 

It is computed that there were in the merchant service 
at the commencement of the revolution, 15,000 seamen and 
198,000 tons of shipping; ship-timber was of course abun- 
dant, and the art of constructing ships was as well under- 
stood in America as in any quarter of the globe ; but of 
war-ships neither Congress nor the colonial assemblies pos- 
sessed a single one. They had not even at their command 
the stores for the equipment of a sloop of war. The navy 
of Great Britain at this period consisted of 356 vessels, of 
which 140 were ships of the line. 

With all these disadvantages, however, the war was ac- 
tually commenced with greater vigour on the ocean than 

* Graham's United States. 

2* C 



18 AFFAIR OF THE MARGARETTA. 

on the land ; and a series of brilliant actions, achieved by 
private valour and enterprise, attested that the spirit of the 
people was not to be repressed by the want of means or 
energy on the part of their colonial or continental govern- 
ments. 

' Soon after the battle of Lexington, a British tender, the 
Margaretta, with two large sloops under her convoy, ar- 
rived at Machias, in the northern part of New England. 
Their object was to obtain a supply of ship-timber. This 
the patriotic inhabitants of the place refused them. Upon 
which the commander of the tender anchored opposite the 
place, and threatened to burn it down, if his demand was 
not instantly complied with. Captain O'Brien immediately 
headed a party of Americans, who took possession of one 
of the British sloops, within gun-shot of the tender. They 
then ordered the tender to strike, which she refused, when 
they commenced so brisk a fire upon her, that she was 
forced to cut her cables, and, with the other sloop, pro- 
ceeded to sea. Captain O'Brien pursued with thirty-two 
men on board the captured sloop, and succeeded in getting 
possession of the tender by boarding. The loss, on both 
sides, was about twenty men killed and wounded. The 
British tender mounted four guns, and fourteen swivels. 
Her crew consisted of thirty-six men. Her captain was 
killed in the action. 

With the guns of the tender, and others he had pur- 
chased, Captain O'Brien fitted out a privateer, mounting 
eight carriage-guns and nineteen swivels, having on board 
a crew of forty-two men. He proceeded on a cruise. Of 
this the Governor of Halifax was soon informed, who imme- 
diately ordered out two armed schooners to capture him. 
Each of these schooners had on board upwards of forty 
men. Captain O'Brien meeting them in the Bay of Fundy, 
captured one of them, by boarding, before the other could 
come alongside to her assistance. The other also was taken 
by him. Both were brought safe into Machias. Captain 
O'Brien conducted the prisoners to Cambridge, and deliv- 



THE NAUTILUS. 19 

ered them to General Washington, who approved his con- 
duct, and recommended him to the Massachusetts govern- 
ment to be appointed to a naval command. He was accord- 
ingly appointed to command the two prizes he had taken. 
The one he named the Liberty, the other the Diligent. Each 
mounted eight carriage guns.* 

On the 22d of August, the British armed vessels. Rose, 
Swan, and Glasgow, attempted to proceed to Providence. 
But, having arrived within eight miles of the town, two of 
them ran ashore, and the other came to an anchor. Soon 
after, an American sloop and brig hove in sight, and were 
immediately chased by the barges of the British vessels and 
two cutters. They ran ashore at Warwick, where they 
were boarded by the British. But a smart engagement 
soon commenced between them and two armed schooners, 
which were convoying a small fleet down the river. An 
incessant fire was kept up for the space of three hours ; 
while the British on board the sloop and brig used every 
exertion to get them off, but were repeatedly driven from 
the windlasses. They succeeded in cutting the brig's cable 
and carrying her off, but the sloop was retaken by the Ame- 
ricans, and brought into the harbour. The Americans, in 
this affair, had none killed or wounded. 

About this time the British ship Nautilus, with two tend- 
ers, sailed to convoy four brigs to Boston. On the day after 
their departure one of the brigs was boarded by a party 
of American soldiers. Soon after, one of the tenders came 
up and grappled her ; but the soldiers lay concealed until 
the tender was fast, when they arose and discharged their 
small-arms into her, which did considerable execution. 
The crew of the tender at last succeeded in cutting their 
grappling-irons, and got off. The brig was conveyed by 
the soldiers safe into Bedford. 

The inhabitants of Falmouth, having opposed the lading 
of a British vessel with ship-timber, Admiral Graves or- 
dered Captain Mowat to proceed thither with several ships 

* Clark's Naval History, vol. i., p. 17. 



20 BRITISH NAVAL FORCE IN 1776. 

of war, to destroy the town, if they did not deliver up to 
him their artillery and small-arms. On their refusing to 
comply with his demand, the British ships opened a can- 
nonade on the town, and in a short time, almost the whole 
town was destroyed. To complete the demolition, a large 
body of seamen and marines were landed ; but the Ameri- 
cans having collected in considerable force, the British were 
compelled to retreat to their boats with the loss of several 
men. 

On the 15th of November, the legislative body of Massa- 
chusetts passed an act authorizing the capture of British 
armed vessels and store-ships. Thus encouraged by their 
government, the ship-owners of New England used every 
exertion to arm and equip their vessels. The bay of Bos- 
ton and the neighbouring sea-coast were soon covered with 
American privateers ; and soon were the British, to their 
great annoyance and distress, made sensible of the daring 
spirit and undaunted bravery of a people whom they af- 
fected to despise. The most distinguished commander of 
the New England privateers of this period was Captain 
Manly. He captured a number of very valuable vessels. 
Among them was the Nancy, of 250 tons burthen, bound 
to Boston with military stores: and a ship which he cap- 
tured in sight of the British fleet in Boston harbour. 

The exertions of the government of Massachusetts, in 
maritime affairs, did not end in encouraging her citizens to 
capture British vessels, but she actually maintained, at her 
own expense, a fleet of small active vessels, calculated for 
capturing merchantmen, and for procuring military stores. 

In the southern sea-coast, few incidents, of an interesting 
nature, occurred during the year 1775. In the month of 
December, Captain Barron captured a British tender, which 
he carried safe to Hampton, in Virginia.* 

The naval preparations of the British, for the year 1776, 
were great. Had they been at war with the most powerful 
maritime state of Europe, they could not have exerted 

* Clark's Naval History. 



BURNING OF NORFOLK. 21 

themselves more. This great force was destined to be em- 
ployed against a people who had scarce a single vessel of 
war. In addition to the vessels already in service, the Brit- 
ish ministry ordered sixteen sail of the line to be put in 
commission. Press-warrants were issued, and a bounty 
was offered, by proclamation, to all seamen that should 
enter the royal navy. 28,000 men, including 6GG5 marines, 
were voted for the naval service of the British, during the 
year 177G. 

Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, forced by the people 
to abandon the State, took refuge in one of the vessels of a 
British fleet, on the coast. This fleet, which consisted of 
four vessels, being in want of provisions, sent an order to 
the inhabitants of Norfolk, for a supply. The citizens 
refused compliance. Irritated at this, and at the annoyance 
given to parties in attempting to land, by riflemen stationed 
behind houses and fences along the shore, Lord Dunmore, 
after having first signified his intention of destroying it, or- 
dered, on New- Year's morning, a cannonade to commence 
on the place. Parties of marines and sailors were landed 
to fire the houses near the water. The flames spread and 
consumed the whole of this once flourishing city. Dun- 
more charged the Americans with participating in complet- 
ing the destruction of the town ; but it is more probable 
that the Americans, enraged to desperation at this wanton 
destruction of their property, and believing their force in- 
competent to prevent the landing of the British, resolved to 
destroy their remaining houses, and remove their goods, lest 
they should serve to harbour or support the enemy. Every 
thing on the sea-coast that might in any way be serviceable 
to the British was removed farther into the country. 

In the early part of January, five British vessels were 
sent to Warwick Neck, to land a party for the purpose of 
collecting live stock. But the Americans being apprised 
of their movements, two companies of artillery, with some 
field-pieces, were immediately marched to Warwick, where 
they were joined by the inhabitants of the place. They 



22 AFFAIR OF THE GLASGOW. 

commenced to fire on the British vessels, and soon forced 
them to retire to Newport, without having even landed. 

At the close of the year 1775, Congress commissioned 
several vessels ; and appointed Ezekiel Hopkins to command 
them. This small fleet was fitted out in the Delaware, and 
consisted of only five vessels, mounting in all 100 guns. 
On the 17th of February 1776, they left Cape Henlopen. 
The commodore, judging it improper to remain on the coast, 
appointed Abaco, one of the Bahama islands, a rendezvous 
for the fleet. There, he learned that there was a consider- 
able quantity of military stores at New Providence, and he 
determined to make an attempt against it. For this pur- 
pose, the marines, to the number of about 200, landed, un- 
der the command of captain Nicholas, and attacked the fort, 
which, after a very weak resistance, surrendered. The 
next day the Americans took possession of the town without 
any opposition. There they found forty loaded cannons, 
fifteen brass mortars, and a great quantity of shot and 
shells ; but the powder, the principal object of the expedition, 
had been removed by the governor. 

On their return, off" the east end of Long Island, they 
took a schooner of six guns and eight swivels, and a bomb- 
brig of eight guns, two howitzers, and ten swivels. On the 
following morning the Glasgow of 20 guns and 150 men, 
commanded by captain Tyringham Howe, hove in sight. 
The Cabot, being foremost of the squadron, bore down upon 
her : but after exchanging broadsides, the Cabot was so 
much damaged, by the superior weight of the enemy's 
metal, as to be obliged to abandon the contest, and refit. 
The Alfred came next alongside, and continued a close en- 
gagement for an hour and a half During the action the 
Alfred had her tiller and main braces shot away. At day- 
break, the Glasgow, making all the sail she could crowd, 
stood in for Newport. The Americans had, in this action, 
ten men killed and fourteen wounded. The escape of the 
Glasgow excited much displeasure against the commodore. 
In his justification he alleged, that if he had pursued, it might 



OTTER AND DEFENCE. 23 

have brought on an engagement with the whole of Wal- 
lace's fleet, then committing great depredations on the coast 
of Rhode Island. 

On the 23d of March, the continental Congress issued 
letters of marque and reprisal against the enemies of the 
United Colonies. 

In March, 1776, the British sloop of war Otter, with 
several tenders, sailed up the Chesapeake Bay towards Bal- 
timore, in quest of provisions. The Defence, captain Nichol- 
son was immediately prepared for sea and manned. On 
her way up, the Otter took an outward-bound ship laden 
with flour. Captain Nicholson set sail, resolved to recap- 
ture the flour-ship. As soon as he appeared, the tender 
abandoned the flour-ship, and several other prizes, which 
were immediately taken possession of, and manned by 
Nicholson, in sight of the Otter. The latter, after remain- 
ing about two hours, without daring to attack the Defence, 
sailed down the bay in company with her tenders. 

About the same time, a very desperate engagement took 
place between the Cornet, of Philadelphia, and an English 
frigate, off" St. Kitt's. It lasted three hours at yard-arm 
and yard-arm. The frigate was obliged to sheer off*. Both 
vessels, however, were very much injured. 

On the 7th of April, captain Barry fell in with and cap- 
tured the British sloop Edward, after an engagement of 
nearly an hour. 

In the latter part of April, a British tender sailed up the 
Rappahannock, and captured a New England schooner. 
On returning down the river, the schooner ran aground on 
an oyster-bank, where she remained for near two days. 
Several spirited gentlemen of the neighbourhood having in 
the mean time assembled, they manned four sailing-boats 
for the purpose of retaking the prize, and boarding the 
tender, laden with a considerable quantity of canvass. They 
succeeded in retaking the schooner, and, had not a breeze 
sprung up, they would have taken the tender also. 

About the same time two sloops, one of ten guns and the 
other of six, passed over the Ocracock bar, in North Caro- 



24 DEFENCE OF PHILADELPHIA. 

lina. They captured four outward-bound vessels. With 
two of these the ten-gun sloop proceeded to sea, while the 
other remained within the bar, with her two prizes. Ben- 
jamin Bonner, a young man, actuated by that noble and 
generous sentiment, so common to his age, the desire of 
obtaining renown by a daring and glorious achievement, 
and stimulated to attempt the chastisement of an insolent 
and rapacious foe, collected twenty-two men. With these, 
in whale-boats he proceeded to board the sloop. In this he 
completely succeeded. The two prizes were also retaken. 
The three captured vessels were safely conducted to New- 
bern. 

At an early period of the war, measures were taken to 
secure Philadelphia against an attack of the enemy's frigates. 
For this purpose 13 row-galleys were constructed, each car- 
rying a heavy piece of ordnance and 50 men. To these 
were added a large floating battery of twenty eighteen- 
pounders, a 20-gun ship, and a number of fire-rafts. The 
navigation of the river was also impeded by chevaux-de- 
frise and chains. 

On the 8th of May, 1776, two English frigates, the Roe- 
buck of 44 guns, and the Liverpool of 28, sailed up the 
Delaware to Christiana Creek. Orders were immediately 
sent to the fort, for the row-galleys to proceed down the 
river and attack them. About two o'clock a severe can- 
nonade commenced betM^een the galleys and the ships, which 
continued near four hours without doing much injury to the 
combatants. Towards the close of the engagement, the Roe- 
buck ran aground. The Liverpool covered her from the 
galleys; and, in the course of the night she was set afloat. 
The Wasp, of six guns, commanded by captain Alexander, 
had, on the preceding day, been chased by the frigates into 
Christiana creek; during the action she ventured out, 
and captured a brig, prize to the Liverpool. The Roebuck 
would have fallen into the hands of the Americans, had not 
the want of ammunition in the galleys put an end to the at- 
tack. The cartridges on board them at the commencement 
of the action, amounted to no more than twenty-eight rounds 



OPERATIONS IN THE DELAWARE. 25 

apiece. At the time the Roebuck grounded, these wore all 
expended in many of the galleys, and in the others only a 
few remained. Shortly after a small supply of eight rounds 
was received, which the commanders of the galleys deemed 
insufficient for the renewal of the attack. 

On the following day, a supply of forty-five rounds of 
powder being received, the attack was renewed with so 
much skill and vigour, that the frigates were compelled to 
hoist sail and return down the river, while the galleys pur- 
sued them with a constant and well-directed fire, notwith- 
standing their crews laboured under the great disadvantage 
of not having their powder made up in cartridges. This 
they were obliged to do during the combat ; making use, 
for the purpose, of their blankets and clothing. All the 
powder, after a cannonade of about five hours, was again 
expended about sunset, when some of the barges went in 
quest of a fresh supply, three of which procured seven 
rounds from a barge ; with this they renewed the combat, 
and continued it till the frigates passed Newcastle. The 
frigates received considerable damage, the repairing of 
which occupied their crews for several days. The galleys 
were only slightly injui-ed. Of the men belonging to them, 
one was killed in the first engagement, and two were 
wounded in the second. The shores of the Delaware were 
lined with spectators of this contest. 

On the 17th of March, 1776, the British were compelled 
to abandon Boston. This occasioned the capture of several 
of their most valuable store-ships and transports ; for the 
precipitancy of the evacuation prevented timely informa- 
tion being sent to England. Some of the naval occurrences 
arising out of this state of affairs are interesting. 

In the month of May, Captain Mugford, who had com- 
manded a trading vessel, applied to General Ward for the 
command of the Franklin, a public armed vessel of four 
guns and forty tons, then lying in the port of Boston. Af- 
ter much importuning on his part, he was appointed to com- 
mand her. Soon after, the General received information 
3 D 



26 VICTORY OF CAPT. MUGFORJD. 

respecting his character, which so much weakened the con- 
fidence he had placed in him, that he sent an express to pre- 
vent his taking the command. Mugford, however, had ex- 
erted himself in preparing his vessel for sea, with so much 
effect, that when the messenger arrived he had sailed. He 
had not been long at sea, when the Hope, a ship of 300 
tons, 6 guns, and 17 men, hove in sight. Mugford resolved 
to attack her, notwithstanding the English commodore, 
Banks, with his fleet, lay a few miles off, and in sight. He 
accordingly bore down on the English ship, and boarded 
her without opposition. While the Americans were engaged 
in taking possession of their prize, the captain of the Hope 
ordered his men to cut the topsail-halyards and ties, with a 
view to impede the sailing of the ship, and thereby give the 
boats of the squadron time to come up. Mugford, sensible 
of the danger he was in, threatened the captain, and all on 
board, with immediate death, should the order be executed : 
and by his resolute manner and vociferation, he so terrified 
them that they desisted from their design. This vessel ex- 
ceeded in value any thing that had yet been captured by 
the Americans. Her cargo consisted of 1500 barrels of 
powder, 1000 carbines, a number of travelling carriages for 
cannon, and a most complete assortment of artillery instru- 
ments and pioneer tools. At the time the Hope struck, the 
continental schooner Lee, Captain Waters, came alongside. 
Mugford, embarrassed what to do with his prize, contem- 
plated running her on shore. But Captain Waters engaging 
to carry her safe to Boston, through Point Sherby Gut, Cap- 
tain Mugford accordingly gave her into his charge. While 
conveying her up that narrow channel, she grounded on the 
Handkerchief. She was, however, again set afloat, and 
arrived safe at Boston. All this time the British fleet was, 
as already stated, in sight. This was a most opportune 
prize to the Americans, for powder was then very scarce ; 
little or none was to be had at any price. 

Mugford, after taking a supply of powder from the prize, 
again put to sea on the following Sunday, In going down 
the same channel through which the prize was brought up, 



DEFENCE OF THE FRANKLIN. 27 

he grounded. This being perceived from the British fleet, 
a number of barges were sent to capture him. Mugford, 
on discovering these barges, hailed them and received for 
answer, that they were from Boston. He ordered them to 
keep off, or he should fire on them. They requested him 
for God's sake not to fire ; for they desired to come on 
board. But Mugford, knowing who they were, ordered his 
men to discharge their small-arms at them. The cables of 
his vessel being then cut, her broadside was brought to bear 
on the boats, and immediately fired. Befoi'e the guns could 
be charged a second time, two or three barges, having each 
as many men on board as the Franklin, got alongside, and 
commenced an attack. But they met with a warm recep- 
tion from the gallant Mugford and his crew, who, with their 
fire-arms and spears, did great execution. 

The British now resolved to board ; but the moment any 
of them attempted to lay their hands on the gunwale of the 
Franklin, they were cut oft" by her crew. Mugford, in 
reaching over the quarter to lay hold of the mast of one of 
the barges, for the purpose of upsetting her, received a 
pistol-ball in his breast. But still possessing his presence 
of mind, he called to his lieutenant, and, in words that be- 
spoke his greatness of soul, said, " I am a dead man ; do 
not give up the vessel ; you will be able to beat them off." 
A few minutes after, he expired. Two barges were upset 
and sunk. The action lasted about half an hour, when the 
British retired, after losing many men, in killed, wounded, 
and drowned. The number of barges that attacked the 
Franklin amounted to eight or nine. 

Four other barges at the same time attacked the Lady 
Washington, a small American privateer, commanded by 
Captain Cunningham. They were, however, beaten off 
with considerable loss. The only loss sustained by the 
Americans on this occasion, was their brave commander. 
Captain Mugford.* 

* Clark's Naval History, vol. i., p. 30. Penn. Packet. Penn. Mag. 
Gordon's Amer. Rev., vol. ii., p. 71. 



28 



ATTACK ON CHARLESTON. 



CHAPTER III. 

Continuation of the Revolutionary War. JVaval Campaign 
of 1776 continued. 

ORE MO ST among 
the individual colo- 
nies which aided the 
general confederacy 
in its efforts against 
the British commerce, 
stood Massachusetts. 
On the first of June, 
1776, John Foster 
Williams received a 
commission, appoint- 
ing him a captain in 
the navy, made out 
in the name of the 
colony of Massachu- 
setts Bay; and authorizing him to take command of the 
sloop Republic, of twelve 4-pounders, fitted out at the ex- 
pense, and for the service of the colony. He was also au- 
thorised to attack and capture, on the high seas, vessels be- 
longing to the king and subjects of Great Britain. Soon 
after, sailing on a cruise, he captured the Julius Caesar, a 
very fine armed merchant-ship, bound from London to Hali- 
fax. She was richly laden, and brought safe into the port 
of Boston. 

On the 28th of June, a British fleet and army under Sir 
Peter Parker and Earl Cornwallis made an attack on 
Charleston. The fort on Sullivan's island was bombarded 
for a whole day ; but it returned the fire with so much spi- 
rit, that the British were obliged to haul oflT, and abandon 
their attempt. 




GALLANTRY OF CAPTAIN BIDDLE. 29 

Captain Nicholas Biddle was a native of Philadelphia. At 
an early period of life he embraced the naval profession. At 
the commencement of the revolution he was appointed to 
command one of the Delaware row-galleys. When the 
squadron under the command of Commodore Hopkins was 
fitted out, he was nominated to the command of the Andrew 
Doria, of fourteen guns. An event occurred, just before 
he left the capes of the Delaware, which manifested his 
daring intrepidity. Two men had deserted from his vessel 
and were confined in Lewistown prison. An officer was 
sent on shore for them, but returned without accomplishing 
his purpose. These men, with others, had armed them- 
selves, barricaded the door, and expressed a determination 
to shoot the first man who should enter to take them. The 
militia of the town had assembled, but dared not force the 
door. Captain Biddle, upon receiving this information, im- 
mediately went to the prison, accompanied only by a mid- 
shipman. The captain ordered Green, one of the deserters, 
a stout determined fellow, to open the door. The man re- 
plied that he would not ; and that if the captahi attempted 
to enter, he should certainly shoot him. Upon this Biddle 
ordered the door to be forced ; and entering alone, with a 
pistol in each hand, he said to Green, who was preparing to 
fire, " Now, Green, if you do not take good aim, you are a 
dead man." Green, intimidated, dropped his musket ; and 
the militia, entering the prison, secured them all. They 
afterwards acknowledged that it was the spirit and deter- 
mination of Captain Biddle that awed them ; for they had 
resolved to kill him the moment he should enter. 

On the return of the fleet from Providence, Captain Bid- 
dle received orders to cruise off Newfoundland. He cap- 
tured two transport-ships, with four hundred Highland 
troops on board. So successful was he in taking prizes, 
that on his arrival in the Delaware, he had only five men 
of his original crew with him ; the rest having been distri- 
buted among the prize-vessels, and their places supplied by 
men from the captured ships, desirous of entering on board 
3* 



80 CAPTAIN EDA'S VICTORY. 

the Andrew Doria. At the close of the year, Biddle was 
appointed to the command of the Randolph, one of the new 
frigates, of thirty-two guns, built by order of Congress. 

Captain Fisk, in the Tyrannicide, a sloop of 14 guns, in 
the service of Massachusetts, — captured the Glasgow, the 
Despatch, and three other British armed vessels during the 
summer. 

On the removal of Captain Biddle to the Randolph, cap- 
tain Robeson was appointed to the command of the Andrew 
Doria. In her he sailed about the end of the year, to the 
West Indies, in quest of powder. On his return, he fell in 
with a British sloop of war, of ten guns, which he captured, 
after an action of an hour and a half Soon after, he cap- 
tured another armed-vessel, mounting six guns. 

Captain Eda, being with a party of twelve men, in the 
vicinity of fort Cumberland, discovered a frigate aivi sloop, 
both of which sailed near to the fort. The frigate departed 
in the night, leaving the sloop behind. Upon this. Captain 
Eda resolved to attempt her capture ; and he succeeded in 
boarding her with his twelve men. An officer on board 
ordered the men to fire ; but being threatened by the Ameri- 
can captain with instant death, they desisted, and surren- 
dered. Next morning, the captain of the sloop, a surgeon, 
and chaplain, not knowing what had happened, came on 
board. They were soon after followed by fifteen men in a 
yawl, and these by seven men in a boat ; all of whom were 
secured. The vessel was safely conveyed into Newbury- 
port. 

John Paul Jones was born at Selkirk, in Scotland. He 
sailed under Commodore Hopkins to Providence, as a lieuten- 
ant in the American Navy. Soon after the return of the fleet, 
he was appointed to the command of the Providence, of 12 
guns, and seventy men. After being engaged for several 
months in convoying vessels along the coast from the Dela- 
ware to Boston ; in which he showed such great skill and 
judgment in avoiding the enemy's cruisers, that he never lost 
one of his convoy, although he had two engagements with the 



PAUL JONES. 31 

Cerberus frigate, and also with others ; in August he left 
the Delaware for a six weeks' cruise. Near Bermuda, he 
came up with a large frigate, which he thought to be a 
merchantman, and gave chase to her. But he soon found 
that he was chasing the British frigate Solebay of 28 guns, 
which continued to fly without returning his fire, until the 
Providence had got within musket-shot. It was now Jones's 
turn to be chased. Capture seemed inevitable. When 
Jones discovered the character of his opponent, he gradually 
edged away, until he got the Solebay to windward of him, 
when setting all his sails, he stood right before the wind : 
and as the Providence sailed better than the Solebay, with 
the wind aft, she escaped. He next sailed towards Nova 
Scotia. Near Sable Island, he fell in with the Milford 
frigate, of 32 guns ; from which he escaped with equal suc- 
cess. On the following day he entered the harbour of Canso, 
where he broke up the fishery, destroying the vessels ; and 
the day after, he sailed for Isle Madame, where he made 
two descents ; destroyed the fishing establishments ; and 
burned all the vessels he could not carry with him. He 
returned to Newport, after a cruise of forty-seven days, 
having made sixteen prizes, exclusive of those he destroyed. 
A plan was now proposed by him for destroying the Eng- 
lish fisheries at Isle Royale, and for liberating a number of 
Americans confined there in the coal-mines. Three vessels 
were ordered for this service, but, owing to several acci- 
dents, two of them were prevented from accompanying him, 
in the Alfred. He took a vessel from Liverpool, and soon 
after, the Melish, a large armed ship, with a cargo of cloth- 
ing for the troops in Canada. Captain Jones then eflTected 
a descent on Isle Royale ; destroyed a valuable transport ; 
and burned the magazines and buildings appropriated to 
the whale and cod-fisheries. Near Louisburg, he captured 
three coal-vessels, during a fog, under convoy of the Flora 
frigate ; and, the next day, a Liverpool privateer, mounting 
sixteen guns. Finding the harbour near the coal-mines 
frozen up, being short of provisions and water, and more- 



32 OPERATIONS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

over, having one hundred and fifty prisoners on board the 
Alfred, he shaped his course homev^^ard, with five prizes 
under convoy. He again fell in with the Milford frigate, in 
the latitude of Boston, which gave chase to him and cap- 
tured one of his prizes. Captain Jones arrived at Boston 
on the 15th of December, 1776. The uniforms taken from 
the Melish, afforded a most seasonable relief to the Ameri- 
can army, which, at that inclement season of the year, was 
nearly destitute of clothing. 

The havoc committed on the British commerce by Ame- 
rican privateers, during the summer of 1776, was great in 
the extreme. The West Indies, in particular, felt the se- 
vere eflfects of the daring spirit of these privateers. No 
harbour was secure against their attempts, unless defended 
by large shipping or by fortifications.* 

Lake Champlain was formerly the principal communica- 
tion between Canada and the United States. When the 
Americans abandoned Canada, it was of the utmost im- 
portance to them to retain its command ; for, should the • 
English obtain possession of it, they would be enabled to 
act in concert with their army at New York ; and cut off 
the communication between the northern and southern 
States. Neither power had a naval force on this lake. In 
the creation of one, diflSculties, apparently insurmountable, 
were to be overcome by both. But labour and difficulties 
merited not a consideration, when compared with the im- 
portance of the object in view. The Americans had to fell 
the timber, and drag it by men to the place where vessels 
were to be constructed. Ammunition, stores, and naval 
equipments, were to be brought from the distant sea-ports, 
over roads almost impassable. The number of privateers 
and other vessels, then fitting out, rendered it difficult to 
procure ship-carpenters from the sea-coast ; but the energy 
and enterprise of the Americans overcame all these obsta- 
cles. By the 18th of August, 1776, they had a considerable 
naval force equipped. It consisted of the schooner Royal 

* Clark's Naval History. 



OPERATIONS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 33 

Savage, of eight guns, 6 and 4-pounders ; schooner Revenge, 
of eight guns, 6 and 4-pounders ; a sloop of ten guns, 4- 
pounders ; cutter Lee, with one 9-pounder in her bow, one 
12-pounder in her stern, and two 6-pounders in her sides ; 
Congress galley, with two 18-pounders in her bow, two 12- 
pounders in her stern, and six 6-pounders in her sides ; 
Washington galley, with one 8 and one 12-pounder in her 
bow, two 9-pounders in her Stern, and six 6-pounders in her 
sides ; Trumbull galley, same as the Washington ; eight 
gondolas, each carrying one 8-pounder in the bow, and two 
9-pounders in the sides. These together, made 15 vessels, 
carrying 80 guns. The English equalled the Americans in 
their labour and enterprise. They had not had a vessel on 
the lakes. Their immense naval armament, which, when 
completed, exceeded every thing of the kind ever seen in 
that part of the world, was to be transported over land, 
then dragged up the rapids of St. Theresa and St. John's. 
The fleet consisted of the ship Inflexible, of eighteen 12- 
pounders ; schooner Maria, fourteen 6-pounders ; schooner 
Carleton, twelve 6-pounders; Radeau Thunderer, six 24 
and six 12-pounders, and two howitzers; gondola Loyal 
Corvette, seven 9-pounders ; twenty gun-boats, carrying 
each a brass field-piece, from twenty-fours to nines ; some 
of them had howitzers ; thirty long-boats, serving as tenders, 
some of them carrying field-pieces. The whole exceeded 
fifty vessels and a hundred guns ; exclusive of four hundred 
batteaux for the transportation of troops. This fleet was 
navigated by upwards of 700 British seamen, under the 
command of Captain Pringle. 

On the 11th of October, General Carleton proceeded with 
the British fleet up the lake, and immediately attacked that 
of the Americans, notwithstanding their advantageous po- 
sition, between the island of Valcour and the New York 
shore. A most severe fire was directed against the gun- 
boats and the schooner Carleton, by the Americans. So 
spirited was their attack on these vessels, that the com- 
mander of the British fleet, with the approbation of the 



34 OPERATIONS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

general, withdrew from the action. The American general, 
Waterbury, commanding the Washington galley, was in the 
severest part of the action. During the whole of the ac- 
tion, he remained on the quarter-deck ; and brought off his 
vessel, though almost a wreck. All his officers, excepting 
a lieutenant and captain of marines, were either killed or 
wounded. The British had two of their gondolas sunk, a 
schooner burnt, and several of their vessels injured. The 
commander of the English fleet, in the evening, anchored 
his vessels, in a line, as near as possible to the Americans. 

Arnold was now convinced that the British fleet was so 
considerably superior to his own, as not to admit of the 
least hope of success, by open contest. He, therefore, re- 
solved to retreat with his vessels to Ticonderoga. This he 
nearly effected, through the darkness of the night, notwith- 
standing the proximity and vigilance of the British. The 
next morning, to the mortification of the English, his fleet 
was entirely out of sight. They chased the American 
squadron all next day, but without success ; on the 13th, 
the wind being favourable to the British, they renewed the 
chase with vigour. About noon, the Americans were over- 
taken a few leagues from Crown Point. The British imme- 
diately attacked them with energy and spirit ; the Ameri- 
cans resisted with firmness and intrepidity. The Washing- 
ton galley was in such a shattered condition, and had so 
many of her hands killed in the former engagement, that, 
after receiving a few broadsides, she was obliged to strike. 
The Congress galley, with Arnold on board, was attacked 
by the ship Inflexible and two schooners. Two of them 
lay under her stern, the other on her broadside, within 
musket-shot. An incessant fire, for four hours, was kept up 
by the British, and returned with equal spirit by the Ame- 
ricans. Arnold, resolving that his men should not become 
prisoners, nor his vessels prizes, ordered two schooners, two 
galleys, one sloop, and one gondola, to withdraw from the 
action and retire to Ticonderoga ; while he, in the Congress 
galley, with five gondolas, covered their retreat. These 



OPERATIONS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



35 



vessels had now to sustain the whole force of the British. 
Notwithstanding that, Arnold ran them ashore, landed his 
men in safety, and blew up his vessels, in defiance of every 
effort made by the British to prevent him. So punctilious 
was he, for the honour of his flag, that he kept it flying; 
nor would he quit his galley, until she was involved in 
flames, and he was convinced she could neither be boarded 
nor her flao; struck.* 



* Clark. 




EXPLOIT OF COLONEL MEIGS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Revolutionary War continued. Naval Campaigns of 1777 
and 1778. 




OLONEL MEIGS, 

a brave and gallant 
American officer ,about 
this time, resolved on a 
most daring enterprise. 
Twelve British brigs 
and sloops were lying 
in Sagg Harbour, on 
Long Island : a con- 
siderable quantity of 
forage, and other arti- 
cles for the English 
army, had been col- 
lected at the same 
place. Thither the colonel directed his course from Guild- 
ford. On the 24th of May, 1777, he crossed the sound, 
which separates Long Island from Connecticut, with one 
hundred and seventy men, in whale-boats. The boats 
were secured in the woods, and a guard placed over them. 
The colonel, with the remainder of his detachment, marched 
with order and silence to Sagg Harbour, distant about four 
miles from the place where he had landed his men. He 
ordered them to attack with fixed bayonets. A schooner 
of twelve guns and 70 men commenced a fire upon them. 
They, however, succeeded in gaining possession of her with 
all her crew except six, who escaped. All the brigs and 
schooners were burned ; the military stores were destroyed, 
six men killed, and ninety brought off prisoners. Meigs lost 
not a single man killed or wounded: and returned to Guild- 
ford with his party, 25 hours after his departure from thence. 



PRIVATEERS. 37 

In this short time, he not only accomplished the object of 
his expedition, but traversed by land and water, a space of 
ninety miles. Congress ordered him an elegant sword, in 
token of their esteem, and of the just sense they entertained 
of his prudence, activity, enterprise, and valour on this occa- 
sion.* 

The success of the American privateers, during the year 
1777, in the capture of English merchantmen, was extremely 
great. Their daring spirit and boldness was unparalleled. 
Their enterprises were no longer confined to the American 
seas. The coasts of Europe were now covered with them ; 
and the coasts of England were insulted by these privateers, 
in a manner that their hardiest enemies had never dared to 
attempt. Even the coasting trade of Ireland was rendered 
insecure. Into so great a state of alarm were the linen 
merchants thrown, that they petitioned for, and obtained a 
convoy for the linen ships between Newry and Dublin, and 
Dublin and England. This was a circumstance before un- 
heard of. The British merchants were forced to adopt the 
mortifying expedient, of chartering foreign vessels, particu- 
larly French, to transport English goods to the continent 
of Europe. Thus was the immense naval force of Great 
Britain rendered incompetent fully to protect her own ship- 
ping, by the privateers of a country, that possessed not a 
single ship of the line, and that had been only a year in 
existence as a nation. 

The countenance given to American privateers, by the 
French court, alarmed the English ministry. The General 
Mifihn privateer had committed great depredations along 
the English coasts. On entering the port of Brest, she 
saluted the French admiral, who, after the deliberation 
of an hour and a half, returned the salute in form, as to 
the vessel of a sovereign and independent state. Lord Stor- 
mont, the British ambassador at the court of Versailles, was 

* Ramsay, vol. ii., p. 12. Gordon, vol. ii., p. 198. Journal of Congress, 
vol. iii., p. 241. 
4 



38 CAPTURE OF FORT NASSAU. 

much irritated at the procedure ; and threatened to return 
to London, if they should continue thus to countenance the 
Americans. In consequence of his representations, an order 
was issued, requiring all American vessels to leave the 
ports of France. Notwithstanding this order was positive, 
yet so many evasions were practised, and the execution of 
it was so relaxed, that the American ships still continued to 
frequent the French ports, and to equip and refit in them. 

The English West Indies, in particular, continued to feel 
the severe effects of the American system of privateering. 
In the course of one week, fourteen English vessels were 
carried into Martinico. Of a fleet of sixty vessels from Ire- 
land, for the West Indies, thirty-five were captured by 
American privateers.* 

About the commencement of January, 1778, an American 
privateer, commanded by Captain Connelly, fell in with, and 
engaged a British vessel of 20 guns and 40 men. During 
the engagement the British vessel blew up, and all her crew, 
excepting nine, were lost. The men who were saved from 
the wreck, reported the cargo to be worth about 400,000 
dollars. 

On the 27th of January, about 11 o'clock at night, the 
American sloop of war Providence, captain John P. Rath- 
burne, mounting twelve 4-pounders, with a crew of 50 men, 
landed twenty-five of her crew on the island of New Provi- 
dence, belonging to the British. They were joined by about 
eighteen or twenty Americans, escaped from British prison- 
ships, and who were there waiting an opportunity to return 
home. This small body of men took possession of Fort 
Nassau, with the cannons, amunition and three hundred 
stand of small arms. 

In the port lay a sixteen-gun ship with a crew of forty 
five men, and five vessels captured by the British sloop 
Grayton. At day-break, four men were sent on board the 
sixteen-gun ship to take possession of her, and send the 
officers and crew into the fort. The British commander 

* Clark. 



CAPTURE OF FORT NASSAU. 39 

was shown the American flag hoisted in the fort; and informed 
that it was then in possession of the Americans, who would 
instantly sink his ship, should he hesitate to surrender. 
Thus intimidated, he gave her up to the four Americans. 
Her crew were conveyed to the fort, and there confined. 
Other parties were sent to take possession of the five prize- 
vessels, which were all secured in the same manner. 

At sunrise a party of Americans marched to the govern- 
or's house, and demanded the keys of the eastern fort. After 
being informed of the occurrence of the night, he delivered 
them up. This fort they also took possession of, spiked the 
cannon, removed the powder and small-arms, and returned 
to fort Nassau. All this was accomplished by ten o'clock 
in the morning. The inhabitants of the place were thrown 
into the greatest alarm and confusion, and were removing 
their effects out of the town. The Americans, however, 
endeavoured to impress upon them, their determination of 
not molesting the person or property of any inhabitant of 
the island, unless compelled thereto in their own defence. 

About 12 o'clock, near two hundred armed people had 
assembled, and threatened to attack the fort. But being 
informed that, if they fired a single gun, the town should 
be laid in ashes, and seeing preparations made to carry this 
threat into effect, they were intimidated, and dispersed. 

About 12 o'clock, the Providence came into the road, and 
anchored near the British ship. Soon after, the British 
sloop Gray ton also appeared. The American colours were 
immediately taken down, and the guns on board the Provi- 
dence housed, in hopes the sloop would come to an anchor. 
But, by means of signals, information of the state of affairs 
was given her by the inhabitants. Thereupon she tacked 
and stood off, on which the fort commenced a fire on her, 
and did her considerable injury. She, however, succeeded 
in making her escape. 

No attack was made by the inhabitants the night after 
the capture. But, at 3 o'clock next morning, two bodies 
of men, consisting of about five hundred, with several pieces 



40 CRUISE OF THE RANDOLPH. 

of cannon, marched within sight of the fort. A summons 
was sent to the Americans to surrender, accompanied with 
a threat of storming the place, and putting all to the sword 
without mercy. But the Americans, in presence of the 
messenger, nailed their colours to the flag-staff, and returned 
for answer, that while ja man of them survived, they would 
not surrender. All that day and until twelve at night, the 
Americans were in continual apprehension of the place be- 
ing stormed. But their enemy remained inactive, and at 
last retired to rest, without having attempted anything. 
The following morning the prizes were manned by the Ame- 
ricans ; the guns of the fort were spiked ; the ammunition 
and small-arms conveyed on board the Providence ; and the 
whole American garrison embarked and put to sea, after 
having kept possession of the fort upwards of two days. 
Two of the prizes, being of little value, were burnt. The 
others were sent to the United States.* 

In February, 1777, the Randolph, of 32 guns, commanded 
by Captain Biddle, sailed from Philadelphia. Soon after 
she was at sea, her lower masts were discovered to be un- 
sound. In a heavy gale of wind they all went by the 
board. The difficulty of procuring American seamen, when 
the frigate was fitting out, obliged Captain Biddle to com- 
ply with the request of a number of British sailors, then 
prisoners, to be allowed to enter on board his vessel. While 
bearing away for Charleston, the English sailors, in con- 
junction with others of the crew, formed the design of tak- 
ing the ship. When prepared, three cheers were given by 
them on the gun-deck. But, by the firm and determined 
conduct of the captain and his officers, the ringleaders were 
seized and punished. The rest submitted without opposi- 
tion. After expeditiously refitting at Charleston, Biddle 
sailed on a cruise. Three days after he left the bar, he fell 
in with four vessels, from Jamaica, bound to London. One 
of -these, the True Briton, mounted twenty guns. Her com- 
mander had frequently expressed a desire, to his passengers, 

* Clark. 



CRUISE OP THE RANDOLPH. 41 

of falling in with the Randolph. But as soon as he per- 
ceived the American frigate, he made all sail to escape from 
her. Finding he could not succeed, he hove-to, and kept up 
a constant fire, until the Randolph came up, and was pre- 
paring to give him a broadside, when he struck his colours. 
The Randolph, by her superior sailing, was enabled to cap- 
ture the other vessels also. She returned to Charleston 
.with her valuable prizes, having been but one week at sea.* 
The State of South Carolina, encouraged by the suc- 
cesses of Captain Biddle, resolved to fit out an expedition 
under his command. Numbers, through personal attach- 
ment to the captain, volunteered their services. In a short 
time, the ship General Moultrie, brigs Fair American, Polly, 
and Notre Dame, were ready for sea. A detachment of 
fifty men, from the first regiment of the South Carolina con- 
tinental infantry, acted as marines on board the Randolph. 
The command of this detachment was a matter of great 
competition among the officers of the regiment. At length 
Captain Joor, and the lieutenants Gray and Simmons, were 
appointed. The mast of the Randolph had been struck by 
lightning. This had induced Captain Biddle to use a con- 
ductor. Its novelty then excited much attention. After 
the Randolph had refitted, and a new mast had been pro- 
cured, the captain dropped down to Rebellion road with his 
squadron. His design was to attack the Carysfort frigate, 
the Perseus twenty-four gun-ship, the Hinchinbrook of six- 
teen, and a privateer. The squadron was detained for some 
time in Rebellion road, by want of water to float the Ran- 
dolph over the bar, and by contrary winds. When over 
the bar, they stood to the eastward, in hopes of falling in 
with the British cruisers. The following day, a dismasted 
ship from New England was retaken. Finding the British 
squadron had left the coast, they proceeded to the West 
Indies. For some days, the American squadron cruised to 
the eastward, in the latitude of Barbadoes. An English 

* Memoir of Captain Biddle. Port Polio, vol. ii., p. 287. 
4* p 



42 THE RANDOLPH AND YARMOUTH. 

schooner from New York had mistaken the Randolph for a 
British frigate, and, before the mistake was discovered, was 
captured. 

At 3 P. M. on the 7th of March, 1778, a signal was made 
from the Randolph, for a sail to windward. The squadron 
hauled upon a wind, to speak her. It was 4 o'clock before 
she was distinctly perceived. She was then discovered to 
be a ship. As she neared and came before the wind, she 
appeared to be a large sloop, with only a square-sail set. 
About 7 o'clock, the Randolph being to windward, hove-to. 
The Moultrie, about one hundred and fifty yards astern and 
to leeward, also hove-to. About 8 o'clock, the British ship 
fired ahead of the Moultrie, and hailed her. She answered, 
'• the Polly of New- York." The British vessel then hauled 
her wind, and hailed the Randolph. The former was now 
discovered to be a two-decker. She had got on the weather- 
quarter of the Randolph, and was ranging up alongside, 
when her captain ordered the Randolph to hoist her colours, 
with which the Randolph immediately complied, and poured 
a broadside into the British ship. 

Soon after the action had commenced. Captain Biddle 
was wounded in the thigh, and fell. Some confusion en- 
sued ; and it was at first thought that he was killed. But 
he immediately ordered a chair to be brought ; said he was 
only slightly wounded ; and was carried forward to encour- 
age his crew. As the stern of the English ship was clear 
of the Randolph, the captain of the Moultrie gave orders 
to fire ; but, shooting ahead so as to bring the Randolph be- 
tween them, the last broadside from the Moultrie went into 
the Randolph; and it is supposed that Captain Biddle was 
wounded by a shot from her. A brisk and well-directed 
fire was maintained from the Randolph. She fired nearly 
three broadsides for one of the English, and while the battle 
lasted, appeared to be in a constant blaze. Twenty mi- 
nutes after the commencement of the action, and while the 
surgeon was examining Captain Biddle's wound, the Ran- 
dolph blew up. So close was this engagement, that Cap- 



CHARACTER OF CAPTAIN BIDDLE. 43 

tain Morgan of the Fair American, and his crew, believed 
it was the English ship that had been blown up. He stood 
towards her with a trumpet in his hand to hail, and inquire 
how Captain Biddle was, when he discovered his mistake. 

The British ship was the Yarmouth of sixty-four guns, 
commanded by Captain Vincent. She was very much dis- 
abled by the action. Her sails were all torn to pieces, in a 
most surprising manner. She had five men killed and 
twelve wounded. All the other vessels escaped from the 
Yarmouth, which continued a chase of several days after 
them. 

There were three hundred and fifteen persons on board 
the Randolph. When she blew up, it was fortunate for the 
Yarmouth that she was to windward of her. Notwith- 
standing, she was covered with parts of the wreck. A 
large piece of timber, six feet long, fell on her poop. An- 
other large piece struck her fore-topgallant-sail. An Ame- 
rican ensign, rolled up, was thrown upon the forecastle, 
without being even singed. 

While the Yarmouth was in chase of the other ships, four 
days after the action, she discovered a piece of a wreck, 
with four men on it, waving for assistance. She immedi- 
ately hauled up, and put out a boat. The men proved to 
be a part of the crew of the Randolph. During all this 
time they had had no food to subsist on. Rain-water, sucked 
from a piece of blanket which they had luckily preserved, 
was all their drink. 

Thus unfortunately perished one of the most promising 
naval commanders, at the age of twenty-seven. In the dis- 
charge of the duties of his station, he merited and obtained 
public approbation. In private life he was beloved and 
esteemed. Humanity, the inseparable companion of true 
bravery, guided his conduct towards a vanquished enemy ; 
and made him feel and alleviate the sufferings of others. 
When he commanded the Andrew Doria, in the expedition 
against New Providence, the small-pox broke out, and raged 
with great violence among the seamen, the greater part of 



44 ENTERPRISES AGAINST THE ENEMY. 

whom were New Englanders. His own crew, principally 
Philadelphians, were not so liable to this disorder. He de- 
termined to sacrifice his own ease and comfort, to alleviate 
the miseries of these afflicted seamen. His ship was crowded 
with sick from the other vessels ; even the long-boat was 
fitted out for their accommodation. His own cot was given 
up to a young midshipman, whom, while he lived, he con- 
stantly attended. He himself slept on the lockers, and re- 
fused every solicitation of his officers to accept their berths. 

In the month of February, Captain Barry manned and 
equipped the boats of the American frigates, then above 
Philadelphia, and under cover of the night, proceeded down 
the river with muffled oars. He quietly pursued his course, 
with his four small row-boats, till he arrived in the vicinity 
of Fort Penn, where he surprised and captured an armed 
British schooner, of ten guns, and four large transport-ships, 
laden with forage, &c. for the British army at Philadelphia. 

During the same month. Captain Joseph Rice, of the 
American Artillery, being on a furlough, near Marcus Hook, 
discovered a large British transport at anchor in the Dela- 
ware. He hired two men to accompany him in a small 
boat, and with these he boarded and took possession of the 
transport. She was from New York for Philadelphia, laden 
with sutler's stores, &c. Rice ran her into Christiana creek, 
where he disposed of his prize and her cargo, much to the 
comfort of the American army there encamped. Captain 
Waters, in the privateer Thorn, of 16 guns, engaged and 
captured the British brigs Sir William Erskine and Governor 
Tryon, the one of 18 and the other of 16 guns; and two 
weeks after, the British ship Sparlin, of 18 guns. 

In 1777, David Bushnel proposed to the government a 
method of destroying the ships of the enemy, by means of 
a torpedo, or submarine vessel, so constructed as to pass 
under water, and attach a magazine of powder to the bot- 
tom of a ship for the purpose of blowing her up. His 
experiments appear to have proved the feasibility of the 
project ; and in one instance a schooner with three men on 



BUSHNELL'S SUBMARINE VESSEL. 



45 



board was actually blown up. The schooner was at an- 
chor astern of the frigate Cerberus, between Connecticut 
river and New London. He subsequently made attempts 
on the enemy's ships in the Hudson and Delaware; but 
some untoward accident always intervened to prevent the 
complete success of his schemes. It was probably owmg 
to this circumstance that he did not receive sufficient en- 
couragement from the government to enable him to prose- 
cute his plan so far as to render any essential service to his 
country. 




46 



PAUL JONES. 



CHAPTER V. 

Revolutionary War continued. JVaval Campaigns of 1778 
and 1779. 



N the 14th of June, 
1777, PaulJones was 
appointed to com- 
mand the ship Ran- 
ger, of 1 8 guns. He 
was sent with des- 
patches to France, 
where he arrived on 
the 2d of December. 
During the voyage, 
he took two prizes ; 
part of a convoy 
from the Mediterra- 
nean; one of them, 
at the time of cap- 
ture, lay under the 
guns of the Invincible, a seventy-four gun ship. 

In 1778, Jones sailed from Brest, on board the Ranger. 
His principal object was to effect a descent on the British 
coast. His first attempt was against Whitehaven, where 
a great number of merchant-vessels lay at anchor. A fort 
and battery defended the place. Jones's view was to land 
on the ebbing of the tide, about midnight ; to take possession 
of the fort and battery ; and to burn all the shipping. He 
proceeded on this enterprise, with 30 men, in two small 
boats. It was morning before a landing was effected. The 
small boat was sent to the northern side of the harbour, to 
set fire to the vessels ; while the other proceeded to the fort 
and battery. The first was taken by assault. Thirty-six 
cannon, mounted on the batteries, were spiked. This party. 




DESCENT ON WHITEHAVEN. 47 

commanded by Jones in person, next proceeded to burn the 
shipping on that side of the harbour, when he perceived the 
other boat returning without success ; which prevented the 
execution of the principal object of the expedition ; for only 
one vessel had been set on fire, when the inhabitants, 
crowding from the town, forced the party to retire on board 
their ship. 

Jones next set sail for the coast of Scotland. He resolved 
to land on the earl of Selkirk's estate, and take his lordship 
prisoner. A landing was effected about noon. As the party 
proceeded towards the house, they were informed that Lord 
Selkirk was in London ; but that his lady was in the castle. 
Jones then sent the two officers and men, who accompanied, 
to the castle. They returned with the family plate, without 
offering any other violence to the castle or its inhabitants. 
The next day Jones sailed from thence. Shortly afterwards, 
he fell in with the Drake sloop of war, then in search of 
him. A boat was sent to reconnoitre the American vessel. 
But through a stratagem of Jones's, who had his ship dis- 
guised, as if a merchantman, the boat was taken. The 
Drake then hoisted her anchor, and stood out to attack the 
Ranger. Jones reserved his fire until within pistol-shot. 
The action lasted for one hour; when the captain and 
lieutenant of the English vessel were mortally wounded. 
She then struck her colours, and was taken possession of 
by Jones. During the voyage, he took several other prizes. 
After an absence of 28 days, he returned to Brest, with 200 
prisoners. 

On the 19th of September, 1778, the private-armed ship 
General Hancock, of Boston, commanded by Captain Hardy, 
fell in with the Levant, an English frigate of 32 guns. 
About one o'clock P. M., the latter hoisted a blue English 
ensign, jack, and pennant; and fired a bow-gun. The Ge- 
neral Hancock hoisted continental colours, and prepared for 
action. The Levant then fired two guns ; came alongside 
the Hancock, and hailed her ; but, receiving no answer, the 
action commenced. At a quarter past 2, the Levant's en- 



48 GENERAL HANCOCK AND LEVANT. 

sign-stafF was shot away. Upon asking her crew whether 
they had struck, they replied " no : fire away." At half 
past 2, Captain Hardy received a wound in his right shoul- 
der, by a musket-ball, which lodged in the vertebrae of the 
neck. He fell, and was carried JdbIow. The first lieutenant 
then took the command, and engaged broadside for broad- 
side, till four o'clock, when the Levant blew up. Part of 
the wreck fell on board the Hancock. The boats were im- 
mediately hoisted out, and the boatswain and seventeen of 
the crew of the Levant were saved. Her crew consisted 
of ninety-seven seamen, exclusive of landsmen and boys. 
She was commanded by Captain John Martin. 

On the 25th of September, the American frigate Raleigh, 
of 32 guns, commanded by Captain Barry, sailed from Bos- 
ton. A few days after she left the port, two British vessels 
were discovered, one of 60 guns, and the other a frigate. 
Captain Barry endeavoured to avoid them, and at one time 
supposed he had escaped ; but the following day he was 
again pursued by them. The British frigate, sailing very 
fast, came up first with the Raleigh. An engagement im- 
mediately ensued between the two frigates, and continued 
several hours. The Raleigh, though she had lost her fore- 
mast, had evidently the advantage, and would have cap- 
tured the British frigate, had not the larger ship come up 
and joined in the attack. Barry supported this very une- 
qual conflict with great gallantry for half an hour, when he 
ran the Raleigh on shore. He had made arrangements to 
burn her as soon as the sick and wounded could be removed ; 
but through some accident this was not executed, and she 
was taken off by the British the next day. 

During this year, the British sloop of war Hinchinbrook, 
of 14, the York tender, of 12, and the Enterprise, of 10, 
were captured on the coast by American privateers.* 
/' A plan was laid by Major Talbot to take the Pigot, an 
I English schooner, of 8 twelve-pounders and 45 men, lying- 
near Howland's ferry, on the eastern side of Rhode Island. 

* Clark. 



CAPTURE OF THE PIGOT. 49 

He sailed, on the 25th of October, 1778, from Providence, 
in a small vessel, with a number of troops on board. It 
was two days before he arrived at Rowland's ferry. At 
Fogland ferry he hauled down all his sail, leaving his vessel 
to drift through the ferry, for fear of being fired on from 
the fort, and thus alarming the schooner which he intended 
to attack. He passed undisturbed. At half-past one A. M. 
he came in sight of the schooner. When a short distance 
from her, he was hailed, and fired on by her marines. But 
he reserved his fire until he had approached so near as to 
run his jib-boom through her shrouds. A deadly volley of 
musketry, accompanied by a discharge from a few pieces 
of cannon, was then poured into the English schooner. All 
the men on her deck ran below, begging for quarters. 
Those that were already below, never made their appear- 
ance on deck. The Americans immediately ran out on their 
jib-boom, boarded and took her without the loss of a man. 
The major arrived with his prize in Stonington harbour. 

As a reward for the merit of Major Talbot, and to en- 
courage a spirit of enterprise, he was, by a resolution of 
Congress, presented Math a commission of lieutenant-colonel, 
in the army of the United States, and some time after was 
appointed a captain in the navy. 

On the 16th of August, 1778, the brig Vengeance, of 20 
guns. Captain Newman, sailed from Cape Ann, in search 
of the West India merchant fleet. On the 2d of Septem- 
ber, she fell in with it ; but was driven from it by two fri- 
gates, which chased her for four hours. Four days after, 
the Vengeance again fell in with the same fleet ; but per- 
ceiving a ship sailing to the westward, she gave chase to 
her, and lost sight of the fleet. In the night this vessel 
made her escape. On the 17th of September, she fell in 
with the Harriet Packet, of 16 guns and 45 men, which, 
after a short resistance, she captured. On the 21st of the 
same month, she met with the Eagle Packet, of 14 guns and 
60 men. After an engagement of 20 minutes, the Eagle 
was also obliged to strike. There were on board this ves- 
5 o 



50 HOPKINS' SQUADRON. 

sel, one colonel, four lieutenant-colonels, three majors, and 
one cornet of dragoons. The colonel was killed in the en- 
gagement, and a number of the crew and passengers of the 
Eagle wounded. Captain Newman was the only person 
wounded on board the Vengeance. Captain Newman hav- 
ing a greater number of prisoners on board his vessel than 
his own crew amounted to, put into a Spanish port. 

On the 13ih of March, 1779, a squadron of United States' 
vessels sailed from Boston, under the command of Captain 
Hopkins. It consisted of the two frigates Warren and the 
Queen of France, and the sloop of war Ranger. On the 
6th of April, they fell in with the armed schooner Hibernia, 
which they captured. On the 7th, early in the morning, 
they discovered a fleet of nine ships, seven of which they 
captured before 2 o'clock. Two of these were ships fully 
armed ; and the remaining five were laden with provisions 
and dry-goods for the British army, to a very considerable 
amount. 

In June, another expedition consisting of the Providence, 
Commodore Whipple, the Queen of France, Captain Rath- 
burn, and the sloop of war Ranger, Captain Simpson, was 
fitted out and sailed from Boston. About the middle of 
July, near the banks of Newfoundland, as the squadron 
lay-to in a thick fog, signal-guns were heard, and at inter- 
vals the sound of ship-bells, striking the hours. From this 
they supposed themselves to be near a fleet. About 11 
o'clock the fog began to clear off", when the crew of the 
Queen of France, to their great surprise, found themselves 
nearly alongside of a large merchant-ship, and soon after 
they perceived themselves to be in a fleet of about 150 sail, 
under convoy of a 74, and several frigates and sloops of 
war. The Queen of France immediately bore down to the 
large ship and hailed her. She answered that the fleet was 
from Jamaica, bound to London. The English ship then 
hailed the American, and was answered, his majesty's ship 
Arethusa, from Halifax, on a cruise. The American then 
inquired if they had seen any rebel privateers. The Eng- 



VALUABLE CAPTURES. 51 

lishman replied that several had been driven out of the fleet. 
The American captain, Rathburn, then requested the com- 
mander of the English vessel to come on board, which he 
did ; when, to his great astonishment, he found himself a 
prisoner. Captain Rathburn then sent one of his own boats 
and the English captain's boat, both well manned, to the 
ship, of which they quietly took possession, without exciting 
the least alarm in the fleet, notwithstanding many of the 
vessels were nearly within hail of the one captured. Rath- 
burn then went alongside another large ship, and captured 
her in the same manner. Soon after the capture of the 
second ship. Commodore Whipple came alongside, and or- 
dered Captain Rathburn to edge away out of the fleet as 
soon as possible ; for the commodore was persuaded they 
should be discovered and overpowered. Captain Rathburn 
then pointed out the two large ships he had captured, and 
requested permission to remain. The commodore at first 
disapproved of this project; but was at length prevailed 
upon by Captain Rathburn to stay in the fleet all day, and 
capture as many vessels as they possibly could, in the same 
cautious manner. As soon as it was dark they left the fleet, 
after having captured eleven vessels without giving an 
alarm. The squadron arrived safe in Boston with eight of 
their prizes, three of them having been retaken by the Eng- 
lish. The value of these ships and their cargoes exceeded 
a million of dollars. 

On the morning of the 9th of June, Captain John Foster 
Williams, in the Massachusetts state ship Protector, under 
English colours, gave chase to a large vessel which appeared 
to the westward. On approaching her, she appeared to be 
an armed ship or frigate. To his demand, where from, she 
replied, " from Jamaica." He then hauled down the Eng- 
lish colours ; ran up American ; and gave her a full broad- 
side, which was soon returned, when the action became very 
warm. It continued without intermission, and with yard- 
arms interlocked with each other, for an hour and a half, 
when Captain Williams perceiving the English ship to be on 



52 DESTRUCTION OF THE ADMIRAL DUFF. 

fire, hauled off from her ; but he had not time to get more 
than twice the length of his ship from her, when the fire 
reached the magazine, and she blew up. Captain Williams 
immediately ordered his boats out to the assistance of the 
drowning men. They succeeded in picking up fifty-five of 
the crew of the wreck, the greater part of whom were 
wounded by shot in the engagement, and several much 
injured and burnt by the explosion. These men informed 
Captain Williams that the ship he had been engaged with 
was a large letter of marque, called the Admiral Duff; 
mounting thirty-two guns, and commanded by Captain 
Strange. The loss in the American vessel was very incon- 
siderable ; being only one man killed and five wounded. 

Among the officers who signalized themselves in this 
engagement, was the late Commodore Preble, then a young 
midshipman. On this occasion, he gave strong indications 
of those great qualities, by which he afterwards so eminently 
distinguished himself, and became so useful to his country. 

During the summer of 1779, a squadron destined to act 
against the British coast, and to intercept the Baltic fleet, 
was fitted out in France, under the command of Paul Jones. 
On the 23d of September, while this squadron was cruising 
in the latitude of Flamborough Head, about two leagues 
from the English coast, the Baltic fleet hove in sight, about 
two o'clock in the afternoon. It was convoyed by the 
Serapis, of 44 guns, and the Countess of Scarborough, of 
22. The merchant-ships immediately took refuge under the 
guns of Scarborough castle, while the two armed vessels 
stood out to sea, and prepared for action. It was night 
before Jones could come up with the English vessels. At 
six o'clock, both of the English frigates tacked, and stood in 
for shore. Jones fortunately discovered this manoeuvre, 
and immediately altered his course six points, with a view 
of cutting them off. When this was perceived by the Pal- 
las, it was supposed the crew of the Bon Homme Richard, 
Jones's ship, had mutinied. This induced her captain to 
haul his wind and stand out to sea. The Alliance lay to. 



SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 53 

at a considerable distance to windward. As soon as the 
Serapis and the Bon Homme Richard were closely engaged, 
the Countess of Scarborough ceased firing ; as it would have 
been impossible for her to have fired a shot, without its 
taking effect on the Serapis. 

The following account of this famous battle is given in 
the language of an eye-witness. 

" At a quarter past 8, just as the moon was rising with a 
majestic appearance, the weather being clear, the surface 
of the great deep perfectly smooth, even as a mill-pond, the 
enemy hailed us, ' what ship is that V The answer from 
our ship was, ' come a little nearer and I'll tell you.' The 
next question, put by the enemy in a contemptuous manner, 
was, ' what are you laden with V The answer was, if my 
memory does not deceive me, ' round, grape, and double- 
headed shot.' Instantly the Serapis poured her range of 
upper and quarter-deck guns into us ; as she did not show 
her lower-deck guns until about ten minutes after the action 
commenced. The reason of this I could not learn, but sup- 
pose they intended to have taken us without the aid of their 
lower-deck guns. We returned the enemy's fire, and thus 
the action began. At the first fire, three of our starboard 
lower-deck guns burst, and killed and wounded most of the 
men stationed at them. As soon as Captain Jones heard 
of this circumstance, he gave orders not to fire the three 
other eighteen-pounders mounted upon that deck, but that 
the men stationed at them should abandon them. Soon 
after we perceived the enemy, by the light of their lanterns, 
busy in running out their guns between decks, which con- 
vinced us the Serapis was a two-decker, and more than our 
match. She had by this time got under our stern, which 
we could not prevent. She now raked us with whole 
broadsides, and showers of musketry ; several of her eigh- 
teen-pound shot having gone through and through our ship, 
on board of which she made a dreadful havoc among our 
crew» The wind was now very light, and our ship not un- 
der proper command, and the Serapis outsailing us two feet 
5* 



54 SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 

to one ; which advantage the enemy discovered, and im- 
proved it by keeping under our stern, and raking us fore 
and aft, till at last the poor French colonel, who was sta- 
tioned on the poop, finding almost all his men slain, quitted 
that station with his surviving men, and retired upon the 
quarter-deck. All this time our tops kept up an incessant 
and well-directed fire into the enemy's tops, which did great 
execution. The Serapis continued to take a position under 
our stern or athwart the bow, and galled us in such a man- 
ner, that our men fell in all parts of the ship by scores. At 
this juncture, it became necessary on the part of our com- 
mander, to give some orders to extricate us from this scene 
of bloody carnage ; for had it lasted half an hour longer, in 
all human probability, the enemy would have slain nearly 
all our officers and men, and we been obliged to strike our 
colours and yield to a superior force. Accordingly, Captain 
Jones ordered the sailing-master, a true-blooded Yankee, 
whose name was Stacy, to lay the enemy's ship on board ; 
and as the Serapis soon after passed across our fore-foot, 
our helm was put hard a-weather, the main and mizen-top- 
sails braced aback, were filled away, and a fresh flaw of 
wind swelling them at that instant, our ship shot quick 
ahead, and ran her jib-boom between the enemy's starboard 
mizzen-shrouds and mizzen-vang. Jones at the same time 
cried out, ' well done, my brave lads, we have got her now ; 
throw on board the grappling-irons, and stand by for board- 
ing.' This was done, and the enemy soon cut away the 
chains which were fixed to the grappling-irons ; more were 
thrown on board, and often repeated. We now hauled the 
enemy's ship snug alongside burs, with the trailings to our 
grappling-irons ; her jib-stay was cut away aloft, and fell 
upon our ship's poop, where Captain Jones was at that time 
assisting Mr. Stacy in making fast the end of the enemy's 
jib-stay to our mizzen-mast. He here checked the sailing- 
master for swearing, by saying, ' Mr. Stacy, this is no time 
for swearing — you may be the next moment in eternity ; — 
but let us do our duty.' A strong current was now setting 




(55) 



'» 



SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 57 

in towards Scarborough ; the wind ceased to blow, and the 
sea agaui became smooth as glass. By this time the enemy, 
finding they could not easily extricate themselves froni us, 
let -o one of their anchors, expecting that if they could cut 
us adrift, the current would set us away out of their reach, 
at least for some time. The action had now lasted about 
40 minutes, and the fire from our tops havmg been kept up 
without intermission, with musketry, blunderbusses, swivels, 
and pistols, directing into their tops ; these last, at this time 
became silent, excepting one man in her fore-top, who 
would once in a while peep out from behind the head of 
their fore-mast, and fire upon us. As soon as I perceived 
this fellow, I ordered the marines in the main-top to reserve 
their next fire, and the moment they got sight of him, to 
level their pieces and fire, which they did, and we soon saw 
this skulking tar, or marine, fall out of the top upon the 
enemy's forecastle. Our ensign-staff was shot away, and 
both that and the thirteen stripes had fallen into the sea in 
the beginning of the action. This ought to have been men- 
tioned before, but I had so many other circumstances o 
relate of more importance, and the succession was so quick, 
one close upon the heels of another, that I hope the reader 
will take this for an excuse. Both ships now lying head 
and stern, and so near each other, that our heaviest cannon 
amidships, as well as those of the enemy, could be of no 
use, as they could be neither spunged nor loaded. In this 
situation the enemy, to prevent, as they told us afterwards, 
our boarding them, leaped on board of our ship; and some 
of them had actually got upon the fore-part of our quarter- 
deck. Several were there killed, and the rest driven back 
on board their own ship, whither some of our men followed 
them, and were mostly killed. Several other attempts to 
board were made by both parties, in quick succession, in 
consequence of which many were slain upon the two ships 
gangways, on both sides. We were now something more 
fhan a iLgue E. by S. from a point of land called Flambo^ 
rough Head, and in about ten or twelve fathom water, and 



58 SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 

the reader may rest assured, that as the Serapis' anchor 
was at the bottom, and her crew not having leisure to weigh 
it, we remained here till the battle was at an end. At this 
time the enemy's fleet was discernible by the moonlight, in- 
shore of us, but we could not perceive any of our squadron 
except the Vengeance, and the small tender, which lay 
about half a league astern of us, neither of whom dared to 
come to our assistance. It had now got to be about 48 
minutes since the action began, as near as I can judge, for 
we certainly had no time to keep glasses running, or to look 
at our watches. The enemy's tops being entirely silenced, 
the men in ours had nothing to do but direct their whole 
fire down upon his decks, which we did, and with so much 
success, that in about 25 minutes more we had cleared her 
quarter and main-decks, so that not a man on board the Se- 
rapis was to be seen. However, they still kept up a con- 
stant fire with four of their foremost bow-guns on the star- 
board side, viz. two eighteen-pounders upon her lower gun- 
deck, and two nine-pounders on her upper gun-deck. 
These last were mounted on her forecastle, under cover 
from our fire from the tops. Her cannon on the larboard 
side, upon the quarter-deck and forecastle, from the position 
of both ships, were rendered altogether useless. Her four 
guns which she could manage, annoyed us, however, very 
much, and did considerable damage. 

" About this time, some of the enemy's light sails caught 
fire; this communicated itself to her rigging, and from 
thence to ours : thus were both ships on fire at the same 
time, and the firing ceased on both sides till it was extin- 
guished by the contending parties, after which the action 
was renewed again. By the time this was done, the top- 
men in our tops had taken possession of the enemy's tops, 
which was done by reason of the Serapis' yards being locked 
together with ours, so that we could with ease go from our 
main-top into the enemy's fore-top ; and soon from our fore- 
top into his main-top. Having a knowledge of this, we 
transported from our own into the enemy's tops, flasks. 



SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 59 

hand-grenades, &c., which we threw among them when- 
ever they made their appearance. The battle had now con- 
tinued about three hours, and as we in fact had possession 
of the Serapis' top, which commanded her quarter-deck, 
upper-deck, and forecastle, we were well assured that the 
enemy could not hold out much longer, and were momenta- 
rily expecting they would strike to us, when the following 
farcical piece was acted on board of our ship. 

" It seems that a report was at this time circulated among 
our crew between decks, and was credited by them, that 
Captain Jones and all his principal officers were slain ; that 
the gunners were now the commanders of the ship ; that the 
ship had four or five feet of water in her hold ; and that she 
was then sinking. The persons who reported this, advised, 
therefore, the gunner to go on deck, with the carpenter and 
master at arms, and beg of the enemy quarter, in order to 
save their lives. These three men being thus delegated, 
mounted the quarter-deck, and bawled out as loud as they 
could, ' quarter, quarter, for God's sake, quarter ! our ship 
is sinking !' and immediately got upon the ship's poop with 
the view of hauling down the colours. Hearing this, in 
the top, I told my men that the enemy had struck, for I 
actually thought the voices of these men sounded as if on 
board the enemy ; but in this I was soon undeceived. The 
three poltroons finding the ensign and ensign-stalf gone, 
proceeded to the quarter-deck, and were in the act of haul- 
ing down our pendant, still bawling for ' quarter,' when 1 
heard our commodore say, 'what rascals are those? — shoot 
them — kill them!' He was on the forecastle when these 
fellows first made their appearance upon the quarter-deck, 
where he had just discharged his pistols at some of the enemy. 
The carpenter and master at arms, hearing his voice, skulked 
below, and the gunner was attempting to do the same, when 
the commodore threw his pistols at his head, one of which 
knocked him down at the foot of the gangway, where he lay 
till the battle was over. Both ships now took fire again ; 
and on board our ship it communicated to, and set fire to 



60 SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 

our main-top, which threw us into the greatest consternation 
imaginable for some time, and it was not without some exer- 
tion and difficulty that it was overcome. The water, which 
we had in a tub in the fore-top was expended without 
extinguishing the fire. We next had recourse to our clothes, 
pulling off our coats and jackets, and then throwing them 
on the fire, and tramping upon them, which, in a short time 
smothered it. Both crews were also now, as before, busily 
employed in stopping the progress of the flames, and the 
firing on both sides ceased. The enemy now demanded if 
we had struck, having heard the three poltroons halloo for 
quarter. ' If you have,' said they, ' why don't you haul 
down your pendant,' as they saw our ensign was gone. ' Ay, 
ay,' said Captain Jones, * we '11 do that when we can fight 
no longer — but we shall see yours come down first, for you 
must know, Yankees do not haul down their colours till 
they are fairly beaten.' The combat now commenced again 
with more fury if possible, than before, on the part of both, 
and continued for a few minutes, when the cry of fire was 
again heard on board both ships. The firing ceased again, 
and both crews were once more employed in extinguishing 
it. This was soon done, when the battle was renewed again 
with redoubled vigour, with what cannon we could manage, 
hand-grenades, &c., but principally towards the closing 
scene with lances and boarding-pikes. With these the 
combatants killed each other through the ship's port-holes, 
which were pretty large, and the guns that had been run 
out at them, having been rendered useless, as before observed, 
had been removed out of the way. At three quarters past 
11, P. M. the Alliance frigate hove in sight, approached 
within pistol-shot of our stern, and began a heavy and well- 
directed fire into us, as well as the enemy, which made some 
of our officers, as well as men, believe she was a British man- 
of-war- The moon, as if ashamed to behold this bloody 
scene any longer, retired behind a dark cloud. It was in 
vain that some of our officers hailed her, and desired her 
not to fire again ; it was in vain that they were told they 



SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 61 

were firing into the wrong vessel ; it was in vain that they 
were told that they had killed a number of our men ; it was 
in vain also they were told that the enemy was fairly beaten, 
and that he must strike his colours in a few minutes. The 
Alliance, I say, notwithstanding all this, kept a position either 
ahead of us, or under our stern, and made a great deal of 
havoc and confusion on board of our ship, nor did she cease 
firing entirely, till the signal of recognizance was displayed 
in full view on board of our ship ; which was three lighted 
lanterns ranged in a horizontal line about fifteen feet high, 
upon the fore, main, and mizen-shrouds on the larboard side. 
This was done in order, if possible, to undeceive the Alli- 
ance, and had the desired effect, the firing from her now 
ceasing. At thirty-five minutes past 12 at night, a single 
hand-grenade was thrown by one of our men out of the 
main-top of the enemy, with a design to disperse a number 
of the enemy, who were huddled together between the gun- 
decks. On its way it struck one side of the combings of 
her upper hatchway, and rebounding from that, took a 
direction, and fell between decks, where it communicated 
to a quantity of loose powder, scattered about the enemy's 
cannon. The hand-grenade bursting at the same time, made 
a dreadful explosion, and blew up about twenty of the enemy. 
This closed the scene ; the enemy now in turn called out for 
quarter, but it was some time, however, before the colours 
were struck. The captain of the Serapis gave repeated 
orders for one of the crew to ascend the quarter-deck and 
haul down the English flag, but no one would stir to do it. 
They told the captain they were afraid of our rifle-men, 
believing that all our men who had muskets were of that 
description. The captain of the Serapis, therefore, ascended 
the quarter-deck himself, and hauled down the very flag 
which he had nailed to the flag-staflf a little before the bat- 
tle, with a determination, as he expressed it, of never striking 
it to that infamous pirate John Paul Jones. The enemy's 
flag being struck, Captain Jones ordered Richard Dale, his 
first lieutenant, to select out of the crew a number of men, 
6 



62 



SERAPIS AND RICHARD. 



and take possession of the prize, ■which was immediately put 
in execution. 

" Thus ended this ever memorable battle, after a contin- 
uance of a few minutes more than four hours. The officers, 
headed by the captain of the Serapis, now came on board 
our ship. Captain Parsons inquired for Captain Jones, to 
whom he was introduced by Mr. Mase, our purser. The 
former accosted Captain Jones, in presenting his sword, in 
this manner — ' It is with great reluctance I am obliged to 
resign my sword to a man, who may be said to fight with 
a halter about his neck.' Jones took no notice of this insult, 
but gallantly replied, ' Sir, you have fought like a hero, and 
I make no doubt, your sovereign will reward you for it in 
the most ample manner.' "* 

Such were the injuries received by the Richard in this des- 
perate battle, that she sunk before she could reach her port. 

* Analectic Magazine, vol. 8. 




CAPTAIN MURRAY. 



63 



CHAPTER VI. 

Revolutionary War Continued. Naval Campaign of 1780 
and 1781. 

ARL Yin the Revo- 
lutionary War, Cap- 
tain Murray was ap- 
pointed a lieutenant 
in the navy of the 
United States ; but 
during the tv^^o or 
three first years of 
the war, he served 
in the land-army, in 
which he obtained 
the rank of captain. 
He afterwards suc- 
cessfully command- 
ed several letters of 
marque fiom the port of Baltmioie In these voyages, he 
had to pass through the British squadron in the Chesapeake 
Bay. He seldom left port without having an engagement. 
One of the most remarkable of these is the following : 

The Revenge, which he then commanded, carried 18 
guns, and had a crew of 50 men. A number of merchant- 
men, upwards of thirty, and many of them well armed, col- 
lected to go out to sea in company. Of this fleet, Captain 
Murray was, by the merchants, appointed to act as commo- 
dore. In his first attempt to get out of the bay, he met 
with a superior force, and was compelled, with his whole 
fleet, to run up the Patuxent, where they remained for some 
days. Being informed that the British vessels had departed, 
he airain made an attempt to proceed on his voyage with 




64 EXPLOIT OF CAPTAIN MURRAY. 

his fleet, which had increased to 50 sail. Terms of agree- 
ment were entered into by the armed vessels of the fleet, to 
support each other in case of an attack. Signals were 
agreed upon, and it was determined to fight their way out. 
As this fleet approached the sea-board, a fleet of privateers 
hove in sight, close under the land. A signal was made for 
a superior force, and all the unarmed vessels of the fleet 
were ordered to return, and the others to rally about Cap- 
tain Murray. One brig and a schooner only obeyed this 
last signal ; the remainder bore up for Hampton Road. 
The British vessels consisted of a ship of 18 guns, a brig 
of 16, and three private schooners. They all stood in for 
the body of the fleet. Captain Murray, to prevent a gene- 
ral capture, resolved to give them battle. In order to gain 
time for the merchantmen to escape, he waited the approach 
of the privateers, and was soon placed between the fire of 
the British ship and brig. But he returned their fire with 
spirit and effect, keeping up an incessant discharge from 
both his broadsides, for more than an hour, when he had 
the satisfaction to see his adversaries haul off*, after they 
had sustained considerable damage. The American brig 
and schooner that remained with Captain Murray behaved 
well, and succeeded in beating off" the privateers that 
attacked them. After this engagement, Captain Murray 
returned to Hampton Roads, whither all the fleet had re- 
tired. His vessel was much injured in her sails and rig- 
ging, but no lives were lost ; only a few, including himself, 
were wounded : for his good conduct in this affair, he re- 
ceived the thanks of the merchants of Baltimore.* 

As soon as his vessel was repaired, he again put to sea. 
On the banks of Newfoundland, he fell in with a strongly- 
armed English brig, a letter of marque. She immediately 
engaged Captain Murray, but after a few well-directed 
broadsides from him, she hauled down her colours. He 
kept her several days in company, intending to take her on 
with him until it should be convenient to send her into a 



* Clark's Naval History. 



CAPTAIN BARRY. 65 

French port. When near the coast of Europe, he found 
himself, early one morning, in the midst of an English Heet 
of 150 sail of men-of-war and transports bound to New 
York. He was pursued by a frigate, and, after a long chase, 
overtaken and captured. After being exchanged, he entered 
on board the Trumbull frigate, as a volunteer lieutenant. 

In the year 1781, Captain Barry commanded the Alliance 
frigate of 32 guns. In February, he sailed from Boston for 
I'Orient, having on board Colonel Lawrence, then going on 
an important embassy to the French court. On his passage 
he captured the Alert of ten guns. This privateer had 
captured a valuable ship belonging to Venice. Captain 
Barry, out of respect for the laws of nations, and rights of 
neutrality, immediately released the Venetian ship. On the 
30th of March, he sailed from I'Orient on a cruise. On the 
2d of April, he fell in with and took two privateers from 
Guernsey. One, the Mar's, of 20 twelve-pounders, 2 six- 
pounders, and 12 four-pounders, with a crew of 112 men; 
the other, the Minerva, of 10 guns and 55 men. On the 
28th of May, two sail were discovered on the weather-bow 
of the Alliance, standing towards her. After having ap- 
proached sufficiently near to be seen during the night, they 
hauled to the wind, and stood on the same course with the 
Alliance. At day-break on the 29th, the weather was quite 
calm. At sunrise, American colours were displayed on 
board the Alliance ; and the drums beat to quarters. The 
strange vessels were discovered to be a ship and a brig, 
with British colours flying; and having, by the assistance 
of their sweeps, got within hail, the ship proved to be his 
Britannic majesty's ship of war Atalanta, Captain Edwards, 
carrying 20 guns, and 130 men; and the brig, the Trepas- 
sey, of 14 guns, and 80 men, commanded by Captain Smith. 

Captain Barry ordered them to haul down their colours, 
which not being complied with, a warm engagement imme- 
diately commenced. So dead a calm prevailed, that the 
Alliance lay like a log upon the water ; while her opponents, 
by means of their sweeps, could select their position. They 
6 * I 



66 CAPTAIN BARRY. 

lay on the quarters and athwart the stern of the Alliance; 
in consequence, but few of her guns could be brought to 
bear upon them. About 2 o'clock, Captain Barry was 
wounded in the left shoulder by a grape-shot. Notwith- 
standing his wound was dangerous and very painful, he 
remained for some time on the quarter-deck ; but the loss 
of blood at length obliged him to submit to be carried be- 
low. Soon after this, the American colours were shot 
away. As this happened during the interval of loading 
her guns, the enemy concluded they had been struck, and 
huzzaed in exultation. The flag, however, was soon again 
hoisted. A broadside from the Alliance obliged the crews 
of her opponent vessels immediately to resume their quar- 
ters. About this time a light breeze fortunately sprung up, 
and enabled the Alliance to bring her broadside to bear with 
effect. Great execution was done thereby ; and at 3 P. M. 
both the British vessels struck. 

When Captain Edwards was conducted to Captain Barry, 
he presented his sword, which was immediately returned to 
him as a testimonial of the respect entertained for his va- 
lour ; Barry at the same time observing, " that he richly 
merited it, and that his king ought to give him a better ship." 

Soon after Barry received his wound and had retired 
from deck, one of his lieutenants went to him while in the 
cock-pit. He represented the shattered state of the sails 
and rigging, the number of killed and wounded, and the dis- 
advantages they laboured under for want of wind ; and de- 
sired to know whether the colours might be struck. " No," 
said Barry, " and if the ship can't be fought without me, I 
will be carried on deck." As soon as the lieutenant made 
known to the crew the determination of their commander, 
their spirits returned, and they all resolved to " stick by 
him manfully." When his wound was dressed, he insisted 
on being brought on deck; but before he reached it, the 
enemy had struck. 

The Alliance had 11 killed and 21 wounded; among the 
latter, several of her officers. Her rigging and spars were 



CONGRESS AND SAVAGE. 67 

much shattered; and she sustained considerable injury in 
her hull. The enemy had 1 1 killed and 30 wounded. 

In September the British sloop of war Savage, of 20 guns, 
and about 1-50 men, sailed up the Potomac, and plundered 
General Washington's estate. On the 6th she was met oft" 
Charleston by the privateer Congress, of the same force as 
herself, commanded by Captain Geddes. Major M'Lane, a 
very distinguished partisan officer of the American army, 
had, with a part of his command, volunteered to serve as 
marines on board her. As the crew of the Savage were all 
seamen, she had considerably the advantage of the Congress, 
the greater part of whose crew were landsmen. At 11 
o'clock, the action commenced with musketry, which, after 
much execution, was followed by a severe cannonade on both 
sides. In the beginning of the action the Savage had the 
advantage ; as she then lay on the Congress's bows, and 
completely raked her : but the latter succeeded in getting 
alongside of the Savage, and soon disabled her so effectually 
that she could not manoeuvre. About an hour after the 
commencement of the action, all the braces and bowlines 
of the Savage were shot away ; not a rope was left to trim 
the sails with ; and her decks were cleared by the musketry 
of the Americans. The Congress continued alongside, until 
accident obliged her to drop astern. The Savage was then 
almost a wreck : her sails, rigging, and yards, were so much 
injured, that it was with the utmost difficulty she could 
change her position tiihe enough to avoid being raked. The 
cannonading soon recommenced with greater vigour than 
ever. The quarter-deck and forecastle of the Savage, were, 
in a short time, again nearly cleared, almost every man sta- 
tioned in these places being either killed or wounded. The 
two ships were so close together, that the fire from the guns 
of each, scorched the men opposed to them in the other. 
The mizzen-mast of the Savage, and the colours of both 
vessels were shot away, when the boatswain of the Savage 
appeared forward with his hat off", calling for quarter^ 
The Savage was found a complete wreck ; her decks being 



68 GENERAL MONK AND HYDER-ALLY. 

covered with blood, and killed and wounded men. This 
victory was in a great measure due to the exertions and 
activity of Major M'Lane and his brave soldiers. The 
prisoners were treated with the greatest humanity and atten- 
tion. Major M'Lane even accompanied Captain Sterling 
to Pennsylvania, and carefully protected him from insult ; 
for his conduct to American prisoners had excited much 
resentment in the minds of the people. Soon after the 
Savage struck, Major M'Lane went forward to look for 
Serjeant Thomas. He found him with both legs broken, 
lying on his back in the netting, near the foot of the bow- 
sprit, with his musket loaded. He was huzzaing for the 
victory, and exclaimed, " If they have broken my legs, my 
hands and heart are still whole." Major M'Lane took par- 
ticular care of this truly brave man, who recovered the use 
of his legs, and afterwards entered on board the Hyder 
Ally, commanded by Captain Barney. The Savage soon 
after the action was recaptured by a British frigate, and 
carried into Charleston. The British captain threatened to 
hang the American lieutenant, for daring to take charge 
of one of his majesty's vessels, and treated the prisoners 
very ill.* 

On the 8th of April, Captain Barney, in the Hyder- Ally, 
of 16 guns and 110 men, sailed from Philadelphia to convoy 
a fleet of merchantmen to the capes of the Delaware. 
While the fleet was lying in Cape May road, waiting for a 
fair wind to take them out to sea, two ships and a brig, a 
part of the enemy's force, were discovered standing in for 
them. Captain Barney immediately made the signal for his 
convoy to get under way and proceed up the Bay ; which 
orders they were not slow in obeying, with the exception 
of one ship, which had a few guns on board ; and her com- 
mander very gallantly determined to abide the issue. He 
was no great help to Barney, for as soon as the action com- 
menced, he, in his haste to get to sea, out of reach of the 
enemy's balls, ran his ship aground, and escaped with his 

* Clark. 



CAPTURE OF THE GENERAL MONK. 69 

men, by climbing out to the end of the jib-boom, and jump- 
ing ashore, while the ship was taken by the enemy. 

Captain Barney kept astern of his convoy, watching the 
motions of the British vessels with great earnestness. He 
saw that the brig and one of the ships were following him 
up the bay through the Cape May channel, while the other 
ship was manoeuvring to run ahead through the other chan- 
nel and prevent the convoy from proceeding up the bay. 
The brig was the first to come up. She gave the Hyder- 
Ally a broadside and passed on ; Captain Barney did not 
return the fire, reserving his shot for the ship, which was 
coming up rapidly. She advanced within pistol-shot, with- 
out firing a gun, probably thinking that Barney would not 
dare to oppose her progress. At this moment, however, the 
Hyder-Ally opened her ports and gave a well-directed 
broadside, which told her determination in sea-terms, which 
were not easy to be misunderstood. The enemy then closed 
in and showed a determination to board ; but Barney, per- 
ceiving immediately the difficulty of his situation, and know- 
ing that if they succeeded in boarding him, he would have 
to face a vastly superior force, instantly walked up to the 
man at the helm and told him to interpret his next order 
* by the rule of contrary,' to do exactly that which is op- 
posed to the command. Soon after, when the enemy was 
ranging alongside, preparatory to boarding. Captain Barney 
called out, in a voice intended to be heard on board the ad- 
verse ship, ' Hard a-port your helm — do you want him to 
run aboard of us V The seaman immediately understood 
the order, and put his helm hard a-starhoard, by which ad- 
mirable manoeuvre the enemy's jib-boom caught in the fore- 
rigging of the Hyder-Ally, and there remained entangled 
during the short but glorious action which followed. The 
Hyder-Ally thus gained a raking position, and such was the 
terrible quickness and effect of her fire — having fired tioenty 
broadsides, in twenty-six minutes — that in less than half an 
hour from the firing of the first broadside, the ship was 
obliged to strike her colours. But the other ship was now 



70 CAPTURE OF THE GENERAL MONK. 

coming rapidly up, and Captain Barney had only time to 
send on board a lieutenant and thirty-five men, with orders 
to proceed up immediately after the fleet, while he himself 
covered the rear. The brig, seeing that the ship had struck, 
ran aground, to avoid being captured. The ship continued 
to work her way up the river, as the taking possession of 
the first was so quick and unexpected, that the captain had 
not time to destroy his book of signals, and Captain Barney 
having ordered his lieutenant to hoist the British flag on the 
prize, while he pulled down the American, on board the 
Hyder-Ally, the ship thought that the American ship had 
struck ; she, therefore, towards evening, dropped her anchor, 
making a signal as she did so, to the prize-ship, which she 
did not expect to be under other orders — and believing that 
she was then working her will among the defenceless convoy. 

After the ship had given up the chase, and dropped her 
anchor for the night. Captain Barney hailed his prize, and 
enquired what her name, character, and force were. He 
was answered, " The General Monk, of twenty guns, and 
one hundred and thirty-six men, under the command of 
Captain Rodgers of the Royal Navy." The Hyder-Ally 
had only 4 men killed and 1 1 wounded, while the General 
Monk had lost 20 men killed and 33 wounded. Among the 
former were five of the officers — and among the latter were 
Captain Rodgers himself, and every other officer on board 
except one midshipman ! 

The Legislature of Pennsylvania passed a vote of thanks 
to Captain Barney, and ordered a gold-hilted sword to be 
prepared for him ; which was soon after presented to him, 
in the name of the State, by Oovernor Dickinson. 



AGGRESSIONS ON AMERICAN SHIPS. 71 



CHAPTER VII. 

Resuscitation of the JVavy, Difficulties with the Barhary Powers. 

RAVELY as the Ame- 
ricans had fought their 
naval battles in the war 
of the Revolution, its 
long continuance against 
so puissant an enemy as 
Great Britain, gradually 
led to the capture or de- 
struction of most of the 
vessels belonging to the 
infant republic; and on 
the termination of the 
contest, the few^ remain- 
ing ships w^ere sold by 
Congress. It was not till the year 1790, when our difficul- 
ties with the Barbary powers had become serious, that the 
attention of the government was again directed to the navy. 
The first act of Congress, passed subsequently to the 
Revolution, authorizing the construction of vessels of war, 
was that of 27 th of March, 1794 ; which directed six frigates 
to be provided ; the building of which was, however, to be 
suspended " in the event of peace with Algiers." In review- 
ing the circumstances which led to the adoption of this mea- 
sure, it manifestly appears that Congress was forced to take 
a step against which they seem to have felt a repugnance 
almost invincible. American commerce, emancipated by 
the establishment of our independence, was speedily pushed 
into every sea; no sooner were the stars and stripes displayed 
in the Mediterranean, than they attracted the attention of 
the Barbary powers, and finding that our commerce was 




72 INEFFECTUAL NEGOTIATIONS. 

wholly unprotected either by ships of war or by the usual 
treaties, the spirit of Turkish cupidity was roused, and some 
of our merchant-vessels were seized, and their crews carried 
into captivity. 

Prior to this, and for many years after, negotiations were 
carried on by Messrs. Adams and Jefterson, in France, 
with the agents of Algiers. But Mr. Jefferson was in favour 
of a naVy ; Mr. Adams, for tribute. 

As early as July, 1785, the schooner Maria, Captain 
Stevens, of Boston, and the ship Dauphin, Captain O'Brien, 
of Philadelphia, were seized by Algerine corsairs and car- 
ried into Algiers, where the vessels and cargoes were con- 
fiscated, and their crews, twenty-one in number, thrown 
into prison. These acts produced the greatest possible 
excitement throughout the country. The strongest indig- 
nation glowed in every bosom — and yet from 1785 until 
1794 (during the whole of which period these depredations 
were continued) no measures were adopted to obtain redress, 
beyond vain and fruitless efforts to conclude a treaty, and 
to ransom the prisoners. That the greatest anxiety was 
actually felt, both by the government and people of the 
United States, to effect these objects, does not admit of a 
doubt ; but it really seems not to have entered into the mind 
of any one, that the only effectual means was the immediate 
preparation of a naval force. 

In the course of the negotiations entered upon by the 
Executive on that occasion, it appears that ransom was at 
first offered, at the rate of two hundred dollars a man, and 
no unwillingness was expressed to stipulate for the annual 
payment of tribute. This proposal was rejected by the Dey 
with indignation, and he demanded a sum equal to two 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-three dollars a man, a 
higher price than had then been paid by any nation, — Spain 
having ransomed her subjects at the rate of one thousand 
six hundred dollars — Russia at one thousand five hundred 
and forty-six dollars, and other nations at still lower sums, 
— the scale rising or falling in proportion to the wants of 



WANT OF A NAVAL FORCE. 73 

the Dey, and the power of the nation, whose citizens were 
outraged, to enforce redress. Such was the intense interest, 
however, felt by the people in the fate of our unfortunate 
brethren in captivity (an interest fostered and kept alive by 
the petitions and complaints of the captives representing the 
" hard labour and rigorous slavery to which they were sub- 
jected, their being confined in slave prisons, with six hundred 
captives of other nations, and their exposure to that fatal 
disorder the plague,") that it is confidently believed that the 
ransom demanded by the Dey would have been paid, but 
for the obvious consideration that it would have operated 
as a temptation for the capture of American citizens in pre- 
ference to those of other countries, — in the expectation of 
obtaining a larger sum for their ransom : the question was 
not so much, at what price the prisoners then in captivity 
should be purchased, as what standard should be fixed at 
which American captives should thereafter be ransomed ; 
and with all the interest felt for the unfortunate Americans 
then held in bondage, every consideration of justice and 
policy seemed to forbid their being released on terms that 
must have operated as a bounty for the enslavement of 
every American found in the Mediterranean. 

We must believe that if the eventual failure of these nego- 
tiations could have been foreseen, the government would 
at once have perceived the necessity of providing a naval 
force. But as the American people would not reconcile 
themselves to the idea of leaving their brethren exposed to 
all the hardships of a rigorous captivity until ships could be 
built, the public voice approved of the attempt of buying 
that peace which the country was supposed to be in no con- 
dition to enforce. In the cruel dilemma in which the 
administration was placed, the conduct of Gneral Washing- 
ton was in all respects considerate, and eminently judicious. 
It appears from Mr. JeflTerson's report, made to Congress on 
the 28th of December, 1790, that after the failure of the 
direct negotiation, the assistance of the Mathurins was 
obtained. "■ This was a religious order of France, instituted 
7 K 



74 DIFFICULTY OF REDEEMING CAPTIVES. 

in ancient times for the redemption of Christian captives 
from the infidel powers." They kept, we are informed, se- 
cret agents at the courts of those powers, constantly em- 
ployed in seeking out and redeeming the captives of their 
own country, which they effected on much more reasonable 
terms than had ever been accomplished by the public agents 
of any government in Europe. This benevolent order of 
men readily undertook the task of acting as the secret 
agents of the United States, in redeeming American cap- 
tives. It was, however, considered necessary to their suc- 
cess, that the idea should be held out, that the American 
government had determined to abandon their citizens to 
their fate. All public negotiations therefore ceased; the 
daily allowance of provisions formerly made, and which we 
are told was so liberal as to evince that it came from a pub- 
lic source, was withdrawn ; and, to destroy every expecta- 
tion of a redemption by the United States, the bills of the 
Spanish Consul were not answered ; and it was even found 
necessary (says Mr. Jefferson) "to go so far as to suffer the 
captives themselves, and their friends, to believe that no 
attention was paid to them, and that no notice would be 
taken of their letters." " It would have been unsafe (he 
continues) to trust them with a secret, the disclosure of 
which might for ever prevent their redemption, by raising 
the demands of the captors to sums, which a due regard to 
our seamen, still in freedom, would forbid us to give. This 
was the most trying of all circumstances, and drew from 
them the most afflicting reproaches." But where there was 
a prospect of serving the cause of humanity, or promoting 
the welfare of their country, the President and his Secre- 
tary of State were not to be deterred from going boldly for- 
ward in the path of duty — though by so doing, they Neces- 
sarily subjected themselves to imputations, which, to men 
of refined sentiment and patriotic feelings, must have been, 
of all others, the most difficult to be borne in silence. 

All these efforts, however, failed. The French Revolu- 
tion transferred the lands and revenues of the clergy to the 



FURTHER DEPREDATIONS. 75 

people, and by withdrawing the means, seemed to have sus- 
pended the proceedings of the Mathurins. The Russians, 
the Neapolitans, and the Spaniards too, about the same 
time, redeemed at exorbitant sums, their captured citizens, 
and slaves had become so scarce, that they would hardly 
be sold at any price. The patience of General Washington 
was at length completely exhausted, and he was driven to 
the determination of redeeming our captives, even on the 
terms proposed by the Dey of Algiers himself. On the 8th 
of May, 1792, he accordingly submitted to the Senate, in 
confidence, the question, whether they would sanction such 
a treaty, and receiving an answer in the affirmative, took 
measures to effect the object. But it was now too late to 
purchase peace on any terms. The sudden and unexpected 
conclusion of a truce with Portugal (brought about as the 
American Ambassador, Colonel Humphreys, declares, " by 
the British court, not only without authority, but even with- 
out consulting the court of Portugal," and which he de- 
nounces as " an execrable plot,") by throwing open not only 
the Mediterranean, but the gates of the Atlantic, to Alge- 
rine cruisers, left our commerce and seamen entirely at their 
mercy, at a time when the United States did not possess a 
single vessel of war. The Dey would now listen to no 
terms whatever. His language was, " let the American 
Ambassador take care how he comes here under the pro- 
tection of any flag whatever, — if I were to make peace with 
every body, what should I do with my corsairs V In the 
course of a single cruise, undertaken at this period, the Al- 
gerine fleet, which consisted of only four small frigates and 
a few xebecks, captured ten American vessels, and carried 
upwards of one hundred of our citizens into slavery. Our 
affairs had now reached a crisis which seemed to leave the 
American government no alternative but to fit out a naval 
force, as speedily as possible, unless indeed, it had been pre- 
pared to abandon the navigation of the Mediterranean alto- 
gether. Colonel Humphreys, in his letter to the Seci-etary 
of State, dated 25th of December, 1793, earnestly pressed 



76 NAVAL FORCE AUTHORIZED. 

this view of the subject on the consideration of the govern- 
ment. " If we mean (says he) to have a commerce, we must 
have a naval force to defend it. It appears absurd to trust 
to the fleets of Portugal, or any other nation, to protect and 
convoy our trade." The American Consul, O'Brien, in his 
letter to Colonel Humphreys, is even still more explicit. 
He declares, " that he sees no alternative, but for the United 
States, with all possible speed, to fit out a naval force," and 
adds, " that if this plan is not adopted, the corsairs of Al- 
giers and Tunis will remain masters of the western ocean, 
— they will cruise in the channels of the western islands, 
and be tempted to go even on the coasts of the United 
States." The whole subject was at length submitted to 
Congress by the President, and on the 27th of March, 1794, 
an act was passed to provide a naval armament. This mes- 
sage contains the first distinct recommendation of a naval 
force. The preamble of the act is in these words, viz: — 
" Whereas the depredations committed by the Algerine cor- 
sairs on our commerce, render it necessary that a naval 
force should be provided for its protection. Be it therefore 
enacted," &c. The act authorized the President to pro- 
vide, equip, and employ four ships of 44 guns, and two of 
36, or in lieu thereof, a naval force, not exceeding in the 
whole that directed by the act — no ship to carry less than 
32 guns, and then follows a special provision, " that if a 
peace shall take place between the United States and the 
regency of Algiers, no further proceeding shall be had 
under this act." Without this provision (says Goldsbo- 
rough) it is well understood that this act would not have 
passed, and even so restricted, the bill passed by a majority 
of only eleven votes. 

If our limits permitted, it would be curious and some- 
what amusing, to examine the arguments urged in Congress 
on that occasion, against a navy, and in favour of buying 
the friendship of the Barbary powers, and even, if neces- 
sary, of subsidizing some of the European naval powers to 
protect our trade. But this we must forego. Contrary to 



PEACE WITH ALGIERS. 77 

all expectation, a peace was concluded with Algiers on the 
5th of September, 1795, and before a single vessel, author- 
ized by the law, had been finished, though so much progress 
had been made in building them, that it was expected all 
the frigates might have been launched and completely equip- 
ped in the course of the year 1796, and at an expense less 
than half of what had been already expended. Congress 
was now compelled to decide whether the work should be 
abandoned, and all that had been done should be lost, or a 
navy of some description be suffered to exist. As usual in 
such cases, a middle course was adopted ; and it was finally 
decided to complete three of the frigates which were in a 
state of the greatest forwardness — applying for that pur- 
pose the appropriation theretofore made for the whole. In 
a table exhibited in the work before us, the expense of this 
treaty with Algiers is set forth, and it appears, from the 
statement of the Secretary of the Treasury, to have cost 
the United States nine hundred and ninety-two thousand, 
four hundred and sixty-three dollars — (over and above the 
annuity stipulated to be paid, and which it was estimated 
could not be paid at a cost to the United States of less than 
seventy thousand dollars per annum) — an amount falling 
but little short of the whole estimated cost of the six fri- 
gates, which, had they been provided in due season, would, 
probably, have afforded (as a much smaller force has since 
done) complete protection to our commerce, and repaid at 
once, the whole expense of their construction.* 

The ships built under the law of March 27th, 1794, were 
the Constitution, 44 guns, President, 44, United States, 44, 
Chesapeake, 38, Constellation, 38, and Congress, 38. 



* Southern Review for 1828. 
7* 




sH E next great era in the naval his- 
tory of the country, was that created 
by our difficulties with France. In 
the wars which grew out of the French 
Revolution, it was scarcely to have 
been expected that American com- 
merce could escape depredations. We 
accordingly find that as early as 1793, 
both England and France began to 
capture our ships, impress our seamen, 
and, in short, to pursue that system, 
from the effects of which we were 
only able finally to relieve ourselves, 
^^3" by adopting measures of retaliation 
against one of those powers, and waging open wai* against 
the other. By the report of the Secretary of State, accom- 
panying the President's Message of March, 1794, it appears,. 

(78) 



FRENCH SPOLIATIONS, 79 

that the vexations and spoliations on our commerce had 
then reached such an alarming height as to threaten the 
ruin of our trade. These difficulties continued to increase 
until the latter end of the year 1795, when our differences 
with Great Britain were terminated by the ratification of 
Jay's treaty. Our differences with France, however, seemed 
rather to have been increased by that treaty, and on the 
7th of December, 1796, President Washington, in his speech 
to Congress, called its attention to the subject of these de- 
predations, and invoked it to remember " what was due to 
the character of the government and of the country." The 
message contains the first distinct recommendation by the 
executive, of a permanent naval policy. " To an active 
external commerce, (says the President) the protection of a 
naval force is indispensable. This is manifest of wars to 
which a state itself is a party. But besides this, it is in our 
own experience, that the most sincere neutrality is not a 
sufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. 
To secure respect to a neutral flag, requires a naval force 
organized and ready to vindicate it from insult or aggres- 
sion. This may even prevent the necessity of going to war, 
by discouraging belligerents from committing such viola- 
tions of the rights of the neutral party, as may first or last 
leave no other option. From the best information I have 
been able to obtain, it would seem as if our trade to the 
Mediterranean, without a protecting force, will always be 
insecure, and our citizens exposed to the calamities from 
which numbers of them have but just been relieved. These 
considerations invite the United States to look to the means, 
and to set about the gradual creation of a ntivj. Will it 
not then be advisable to begin without delay to provide and 
lay up the materials for building and equipping of ships of 
war, and to proceed in the work by degrees, in proportion 
as our resources shall render it practicable without incon- 
venience, so that a future war of Europe may not find our 
commerce in the same unprotected state in which it was 
found by the present V' 



80 NAVAL PREPARATIONS. 

In the first message of President Adams, (16th May, 
1797,) he enforces the wisdom of this policy in very em- 
phatic language. In consequence of the message of Gene- 
ral Washington, Congress called for a report respecting the 
depredations committed on the commerce of the United 
States. It appeared from the report made in obedience to 
this call, that between three and four hundred American 
vessels had been captured by French cruisers — the greater 
number of which had been condemned. 

Congress at this session, among other measures, having 
in view the protection of the commerce and the vindication 
of the honour of the country, authorized the President to fit 
out and employ the frigates United States, Constitution and 
Constellation, and made an appropriation for completing the 
three frigates then on the stocks. This was the second im- 
portant step taken* by the government for the purpose of 
creating a naval force ; and, like the former, it was forced 
upon them by hard necessity. Every thing was now ra- 
pidly tending to a rupture with France. Every effort to 
avert that calamity seemed only to hasten its approach. At 
length Congress determined, in accordance with the de- 
clared wishes of the President, to take measures to redress 
our wrongs by force of arms. 

^'^ On the 9th of April, 1798, the Secretary of War (then 
also charged with the duty of superintending the concerns 
of the navy) submitted to the House of Representatives his 
plans for the protection of our commerce. Among the 
means recommended as indispensably necessary, was " a 
provision for building or purchasing two vessels of 22 guns, 
eight of 20 guns, and ten of 16 guns; and, that the Presi- 
dent should be vested with authority in case of open rup- 
ture, to provide, by such means as he may judge best, a 
number of ships of the line not exceeding six, or an equiva- 
lent force in frigates." With these recommendations Con- 
gress so far complied, as to authorize the President " to 
cause to be built, purchased or hired, a number of vessels 
not exceeding twelve, to carry not more than 22 guns each." 



NAVAL WAR WITH FRANCE. 81 

A few days afterwards, the office of Secretary of the Navy 
was created, and Benjamin Stoddert (a gentleman who 
proved himself pre-eminently qualified for the station) was 
appointed to that office. 

In the course of the months of May, June and July, of 
the same year, acts were passed declaring the treaties with 
France no longer obligatory — authorizing the capture of 
French armed vessels — and directing so many additional 
vessels of war to be built, as made the whole number at 
that time, (July 1798) authorized by law, amount to — 
12 Ships of not less than 32 guns, 
12 " of not less than 20, nor exceeding 24, 

And 6 " of 18 guns, besides galleys and revenue cut- 
ters. So great was the activity displayed in providing this 
force, that towards the close of the year 1798, there were 
actually at sea, no less than four squadrons, under the sepa- 
rate commands of Commodores Barry, Truxtun, Tingey, 
and Stephen Decatur, Senior, consisting, in all, of four fri- 
gates, four ships of 18 guns, and eight smaller vessels.* 

Notwithstanding this extensive preparation and active 
commencement of the naval war, only two actions were 
fought under such circumstances as to render them greatly 
celebrated in our national nautical annals. These were by 
the frigate Constellation, under command of Commodore 
Thomas Truxtun. 

Appointed, with a squadron under his command, to the 
protection of the American commerce in the West Indies, 
the commodore had an arduous task to perform, in the in- 
fancy of a navy not yet organized ; but every difficulty 
yielded to the excellence of his discipline, for which he has 
ever been celebrated. On this station, his indefatigable 
vigilance guarded, in the most effectual manner, the pro- 
perty of our merchants; and an enemy's privateer could 
scarcely look out of port without being captured. 

At noon, on the 9th of February 1799, the island of Ne- 
vis bearing W. S. W. five leagues distant, the Constellation 

* Southern Review for 1828. 
L 



82 CAPTURE OF L'INSURGENTE. 

being then alone, a large ship was seen to the southward, 
upon which Commodore Truxtun immediately bore down. 
On his hoisting the American ensign, the strange sail showed 
French colours, and fired a gun to windward (the signal of 
an enemy). At a quarter past 3 P. M., the commodore was 
hailed by the French captain, and the Constellation, rang- 
ing alongside of the enemy's frigate, who had so declared 
herself, by firing a gun to windward, poured in a close and 
extremely well-directed broadside, which was instdntly re- 
turned by her antagonist, who, after a very warm engage- 
ment of an hour and a quarter, hauled down her colours, 
and proved to be L'Insurgente, of 40 guns, and 417 men; 
29 of whom were killed, and 44 wounded in the action. 
She was commanded by Monsieur Barreau, a distinguished 
officer, who did not strike his colours till his ship was a per- 
fect wreck The Constellation had only one man killed 
and two wounded. A stronger instance of the strict and 
exemplary discipline preserved on board the Constellation 
cannot be given than this disparity of loss in the two ships : 
and yet, during the whole time that Commodore Truxtun 
commanded her, but one man was whipt at the gangway, 
and that for extreme bad conduct, and he was immediately 
discharged fKom the ship, as unworthy of belonging to her. 
Scarce a man of her crew had ever been in action before. 
The prize was taken into Basseterre, St. Christopher's, and, 
after being refitted, added to the American navy. 

This was the first opportunity that had oflTered to an Ame- 
rican frigate of engaging an enemy of superior force ; and 
the gallantry displayed by Commodore Truxtun was highly 
applauded, not only by his own countrymen, but by for- 
eigners. He received congratulatory addresses from all 
quarters, and the merchants of Lloyd's Coffeehouse sent him 
a present of plate, worth upwards of six hundred guineas, 
with the action between the frigates elegantly engraved on 
it. It is a relief to the horrors of war, to see those whom 
the collisions of their countries have placed in hostile array, 
treat each other, when the battle is over, with all the ur- 



CONSTELLATION AND LA VENGEANCE. 85 

banity of accomplished cavaliers. Captain Barreau, in a 
letter to Commodore Truxtun, says : " I am sorry that our 
two nations are at war ; but since I unfortunately have been 
vanquished, I felicitate myself and crew upon being prison- 
ers to you. You have united all the qualities which char- 
acterize a man of honour, courage, and humanity. Receive 
from me the most sincere thanks, and be assured, I shall 
make it a duty to publish to all my fellow-citizens, the gene- 
rous conduct which you have observed towards us." 

The Constellation, in a very short time, was again at sea. 
It is unnecessary to give a list of the privateers and small 
vessels captured by the squadron ; it is sufficient to say, 
that the most effectual convoy was afforded by it, and 
France saw the West Indies cleared of her buccaneers by 
our infant navy on that station. While the different ships 
belonging to it were cruising separately, so as to give the 
best protection to our merchant vessels, our commodore, 
hearing that La Vengeance, a large French national ship of 
54 guns, with upwards of five hundred men, including seve- 
ral general officers and troops on board, was lying at Gua- 
daloupe, proceeded in January, 1800, off that port, deter- 
mined, if possible, notwithstanding the superiority of her 
force, to bring her to action should she put to sea. On the 
1st of February, at half-past seven A.M., the road of Bas- 
seterre, Guadaloupe, bearing E. five leagues distant, he dis- 
covered a sail in the S. E. standing to the westward, which 
soon proved to be the long-sought-for La Vengeance. The 
French officer, one would suppose, could have had no hesi- 
tation in engaging an enemy so inferior in guns and men as 
the Constellation ; but this did not prove to be the case, for 
he crowded all sail to avoid his foe, and it was not till after 
a most persevering chase of upwards of twelve hours, that 
the Constellation brought him to action. The engagement 
began by a fire from the stern and quarter-deck guns of the 
French ship, which was returned, in a few minutes after- 
wards, by a broadside from the Constellation, that had by 
this time got upon the weather-quarter of her antagonist, 
8 



86 ESCAPE OF LA VENGEANCE. 

and a close and desperate action commenced, which lasted 
from eight o'clock until within a few minutes of one A. M., 
when the fire of La Vengeance was completely silenced. 
At this moment, when the American commander considered 
himself sure of his prize, and was endeavouring to secure 
his mainmast, which had been very much wounded, he had 
the misfortune to see it go by the board. A heavy squall 
coming on at the same time, before the Constellation could 
be completely cleared of the wreck, the French ship was 
enabled to effect her escape. Indeed, so sudden was her 
disappearance in the squall, that she was supposed by all 
on board the Constellation to have sunk. It however ap- 
peared, afterwards, that five days after the action she got 
into Curra<;oa, in a most shattered condition, having had 
160 men killed and wounded, and nearly all her masts and 
rigging shot away. It had required all hands at the pumps 
for several days, to keep her from foundering. Her captain 
had the candour to acknowledge that he had twice struck 
his colours, but owing to the darkness of the night, this was 
not perceived on board the Constellation, and he, finding 
that her fire continued, and concluding that it was the de- 
termination of his enemy to sink him, renewed the combat 
from necessity. When her mast went overboard, he took 
advantage of the accident, and got oflT. In this engage- 
ment, the Constellation had fourteen men killed and twenty- 
five wounded. Among the former was James Jarvis, a 
young midshipman of great promise, who commanded in 
the main-top. When told by one of the old seamen of the 
danger of the mast falling, and requested, with his men, to 
come down, he replied, that if it went, they must go with 
it. In a few minutes after, it went over, and but one of the 
topmen was saved. 

For the signal gallantry displayed in this action, the Con- 
gress of the United States voted that a medal should be 
given to Commodore Truxtun.* 

The name of Commodore Stewart became first known in 

* Port Folia 



LIEUTENANT STEWART. 87 

the annals of our naval warfare during the contest with 
France. 

In the early part of the year 1798, when there was a 
strong probability of a war with France, he was induced 
to offer his services to his country. They were accepted ; 
and on the 13th of March, 1798, he was appointed a lieu- 
tenant in the navy of the United States, and placed on 
board the frigate United States, under the command of 
Commodore Barry. In this ship he remained until July 
16th, 1800, when he was promoted to the command of the 
United States' schooner Experiment, of 12 guns. Having 
been ordered to cruise in the West Indies, he arrived on 
that station on the 1st of September, 1800; and the same 
night fell in with the French schooner Deux Amis of eight 
guns, which the Experiment engaged and captured without 
any loss, after an action of ten minutes. 

Shortly after, while cruising under the lee of the island 
of Barbuda, the Experiment discovered two vessels, one a 
brig of war, the other a three-masted schooner, both stand- 
ing for her under a press of sail, and displaying English 
colours. The Experiment was hove-to, and the British sig- 
nal of the day was made, which not being answered by the 
strange vessels by the time they were within gun-shot, that 
signal was hauled down, and the Experiment stood away 
with all sail set. A chase was now commenced by the 
enemy, and continued for about two hours ; when, finding 
they were outsailed by the Experiment, they relinquished 
the pursuit, and bore away under easy sail, firing a gun to 
windward and hoisting French colours. I^ieutenant Stew- 
art now manoeuvred his schooner so as to bring her in the 
enemy's wake, to windward, when a chase was made on 
his part, which continued the whole day before the wind, 
each vessel crowding all her canvass. At 8 o'clock at night, 
the Experiment closed with the three-masted schooner, 
which was the sternmost of the hostile vessels ; and, having 
taken a position on her larboard-quarter, opened a fire upon 
her from the great guns and small-arms, which, in about 



98 CRUISE OF THE EXPERIMENT. 

five minutes, compelled her to strike. She was immediately 
taken possession of, and proved to be the French schooner 
of war Diana, of 14 guns and 65 men, commanded by M. 
Peraudeau, lieutenant de Vaisseau. The detention occa- 
sioned by removing the prisoners, enabled the brig of war 
to escape. She mounted, as was afterwards learned, 18 
guns, and had a crew of 120 men. The Experiment pro- 
ceeded to St. Christopher's with her prize. 

Soon afterwards she put to sea, and, on the 16th of No- 
vember, fell in with an armed schooner in the night, chased, 
attacked and captured her. This vessel proved to be the 
Louisa Bridger, of Bermuda, carrying 8 nine-pounders, and 
a stout crew of Bermudians, principally negroes. She was 
much cut up, and in a sinking condition. The Experiment 
having given every requisite aid to her British opponent, 
whom she had mistaken for an enemy, dismissed him, and 
returned to her station to windward of Mariegalante and 
Guadaloupe, for the purpose of intercepting the French pri- 
vateers and their prizes. 

On the 14th of December, she fell in with tlie privateer 
Flambeau, of 16 guns and 90 men, with a prize brig, steer- 
ing for Mariegalante. The breeze being light and the enemy 
to windward, it was late in the afternoon before there was 
any prospect of closing with I'lim. Notwithstanding all the 
exertions of the Experiment, the Flambeau escaped in-shore ; 
but her prize was retaken. This vessel proved to be the 
Zebra, of and from Baltimore, laden with flour. During the 
remainder of this cruise, the Experiment recaptured several 
American vessels, sometimes as many as two or three in a 
day, and thus rescued American property to a considerable 
amount.* 

David Porter, afterwards Commodore Porter, won con- 
siderable distinction by his bravery and skill during the 
progress of this war. 

In the action with the French frigate ITnsurgente, Por- 
ter, then a midshipman, was stationed in the fore-top, and 

* Analectic Magazine, vol. vii., p. 132. 



LIEUTENANT PORTER. 89 

particularly distinguished himself by his good conduct. 
Want of friends alone prevented his promotion at the time. 
When Commodore Barron was appointed to the command 
of the Constellation, Porter was advanced to the i^ank of 
lieutenant, solely on account of his merit, having no friends 
or connexions capable of urging his fortunes. He was 
ordered to join the United States' schooner Experiment, 
under Captain Maley, to be employed on the West India 
station. During the cruise they had a long and obstinate 
engagement with a number of brigand boats in the Bite of 
Leogan, which atforded him another opportunity of bring- 
ing himself into notice. He was also frequently employed 
in boat expeditions to cut out vessels, in which he displayed 
much coolness and address. Commodore Talbot, who com- 
manded on that station, gave him charge of the Amphitrite, 
a small pilot-boat prize-schooner, mounting five small swiv- 
els, taken from the tops of the Constellation, and manned 
with fifteen hands. Not long after taking this command, he 
fell in with a French privateer, mounting a long twelve- 
pounder and several swivels, and a large barge with thirty 
men, armed with swivels. Notwithstanding the great dis- 
parity of force, Porter ordered his vessel to be laid along- 
side the privateer. The contest was arduous, and for some 
time doubtful, but in the commencement of the action he 
lost his rudder, which rendered the schooner unmanageable. 
The event, however, excused the desperateness of the attack, 
for, after an obstinate and bloody battle, the privateer sur- 
rendered with the loss of seven killed and fifteen wounded. 
Not a man of Porter's crew was killed ; several, however, 
were wounded ; and his vessel was much injured. The 
prize was also taken, but the barge escaped. The conduct 
of Lieutenant Porter in this gallant little affair, was highly 
applauded by his commander. 

Though many officers distinguished themselves, Truxtun 

was the hero of the French war. In the actions with the 

Insurgente and the Vengeance, he achieved victories over 

greatly superior force, and displayed so much skill and gal- 

8* M 



90 PEACE WITH FRANCE. 

lantry as to win not only the gold medal from Congress, but 
a distinguished place in the first class of naval heroes. 

In looking over the list of those who became known to 
fame in the course of this war, we find, besides those al- 
ready mentioned, Rodgers, Hull, Bainbridge, and Shaw. 
The principal service performed was the protection of our 
commerce against small French privateers, which abounded 
in the West Indies, and of which more than fifty were taken 
by our cruisers during the war. A considerable number 
of merchantmen and letters-of-marque were also captured, 
and many of our merchantmen were retaken from the 
French. 

On the 3d of February, 1801, our hostilities with France 
were terminated by a treaty of peace, and the active ser- 
vices of the navy being no longer required, the President 
was authorized, by " the act providing for a Naval Peace 
Establishment," " to cause to be sold all the vessels belong- 
ing to the navy, except the following, viz : the United 
States, Constitution, President, Chesapeake, Philadelphia, 
Constellation, Congress, New York, Boston, Essex, Adams, 
John Adams and General Greene." 

The act further directed that six of the frigates should 
be kept in constant service, and the President was required 
to retain in service nine captains, thirty-six lieutenants, and 
one hundred and fifty-six midshipmen. 






^^Sjj 



CHAPTER IX. 

War ivith Tripoli. 

H E commercial and diplomatic rela- 
tions of the United States with all na- 
tions, appeared to be settled on the 
firm grounds of justice, reciprocity, 
and friendship. Tranquillity succeeded 
the late troubles, and years of unin- 
terrupted prosperity seemed to await 
the characteristic enterprise and acti- 
vity of the people. But, as if to mark 
the uncertainty of human enjoyment, 
iHKJiiiiiii I /I. .^iC. fresh scenes of vexation, and ulti- 
mately of war, were to be disclosed, 
by the tenor of the insulting proposals 
that accompanied the renewed de- 
mands of the Barbary states. Europe and the western 
world will long attest the flagrant extortions, the barbarous 
cruelties, the unprincipled intrigues, which have so long 



92 AFFAIR OF THE ENTERPRISE. 

marked the course of those piratical powers, whose very 
name appears to designate their real character. The ex- 
tension of the American commerce in the Mediterranean, 
was too tempting an object to escape their avarice and thirst 
for phmder. To improve the occasion into a demand for 
tribute, was the policy of the bashaw of Tripoli, who, in 
1799, threatened speedy depredations on the defenceless ves- 
sels of America, unless certain terms, totally inadmissible 
in their nature, were complied with. On the remonstrance 
of the American consul, and the rejection of these terms by 
the government of the United States, the consul was or- 
dered, by the bashaw, to withdraw from his dominions; 
and, during the month of June, 1801, five American vessels 
were captured by Tripolitan cruisers.* 

In August, the United States' schooner Enterprise, Cap- 
tain Sterret, fell in with one of these cruisers, off Malta. 
A desperate engagement ensued, which was, without inter- 
mission, continued nearly two hours, when the Tripolitan 
hauled down his colours. The crew of the Enterprise, 
ceasing to fire, cheered upon their victory ; when the per- 
fidious corsair again attacked, hoisting his colours, and re- 
newing the action with increased desperation, but to little 
eflfect. A volley of small-arms from the Enterprise, swept 
the deck of the enemy ; and the cruiser was ordered under 
her quarters. The treacherous disposition of these bucca- 
neers was again manifested ; for, on gaining this position, 
they renewed, from below, the contest a third time, by pour- 
ing a broadside into the Enterprise, hoisting the bloody flag, 
in token of extermination, and using every effort to board. 
The crew of the Enterprise were now animated to a high 
pitch of resentment, and resolved to wreak a signal ven- 
geance on their treacherous opponents- Such a position 
was taken, that the corsair was raked fore and aft. A well- 
directed fire carried away the mizzen-mast, and drove the 
enemy from their quarters. The commander, perceiving 
impending destruction to the remainder of his crew, threw 

* Ramsay's United States. 



COM. DALE SENT TO TRIPOLI- 93 

his colours into the sea, and, bending over the side of his 
vessel, in an attitude of supplication, implored mercy. 
Captain Sterret instantly arrested the work of carnage, and, 
setting a noble example of the triumph of civilization and 
generosity over barbarism, ordered every attention to be 
paid to the wounded Tripolitans that humanity could dic- 
tate. The masts of the cruiser were cut down. Captain 
Sterret's instructions not permitting him to make a prize 
of her; the guns thrown into the sea; and a spar being 
erected as a substitute for a mast, to which a tattered sail 
was attached, the surviving crew were thus sent into Tri- 
poli, with an admonition not to expect tribute from a nation 
determined to pay it only in powder and ball. 

To screen his own impolicy, the bashaw ascribed the de- 
feat to cowardice in the captain of his vessel, whom, though 
wounded, he ordered to be mounted on an ass, paraded 
through the town, as an object of public scorn, and after- 
wards to receive five hundred stripes with the bastinado. 
Captain Sterret was honoured with the sfjecial notice of the 
President of the United States, who, in a message to the 
two houses of Congress, recommended this achievement to 
their particular attention. They unanimously passed reso- 
lutions, expressive of their approbation of the gallantry of 
the commander, officers, and crew of the Enterprise ; and 
voted a gold medal, with suitable emblems, to Captain Ster- 
ret ; swords of value to his officers ; and one month's extra 
pay to the non-commissioned officers, seamen, and marines. 

During the year 1801, the government of the United 
States despatched three frigates and a sloop of war to the 
Mediterranean, under Commodore Dale. On his arrival, he 
invested the port of Tripoli, and issued a regular notifica- 
tion of strict blockade to all concerned. By this measure, 
the Tripolitan cruisers were excluded from the Mediterra- 
nean, and the American commerce, in that sea, was com- 
pletely secured from molestation. 

In the year 1802, Commodore Murray, in the Constella- 
tion, sailed for the Mediterranean. While cruising off the 



94 MEASURES AGAINST TRIPOLI. 

port of Tripoli, and happening to be becalmed, his situation 
was perceived, and the whole of the Tripolitan gun-boats 
in the harbour came out to engage him. The low construc- 
tion of this kind of craft, and their moveability in calm 
weather, render them formidable, in proportion as the ad- 
vantages of larger vessels are counteracted, when the want 
of wind prevents their being steered. A man-of-war then 
presents the fairest mark ; and accordingly, at point-blank 
distance, the Constellation was exposed to a galling, inces- 
sant fire, for more than an hour. A breeze, however, fortu- 
nately springing up, the commodore dashed in among them, 
and obliged the whole to retire in dismay and confusion. 
Several of the boats were sunk ; others upset in the surf; 
and numbers of the crews were killed, wounded or drowned. 
>The year 1802 elapsed without any other occurrence of 
'^''^interest. Early in 1803, the government of the United 
States determined on vigorous measures against Tripoli. 
A squadron of seven sail was fitted out, consisting of the 
Constitution of 44 guns, Philadelphia 44, Argus 18, Syren 
16, Nautilus 16, Vixen 16, and Enterprise 14, the command 
of which was given to Commodore Preble. 

At this time, our situation with respect to Morocco and 
Tunis, was critical, and in respect to Tripoli had been hos- 
tile for more than two years. The American administra- 
tion had proposed to adopt the same policy towards these 
powers as that submitted to by most of the governments of 
Europe ; that is, to give them presents, or annuities, in con- 
formity to their prejudices and habits, but to make an occa- 
sional display of force in their seas, with a view to keep 
down their demands and expectations. The former part of 
the system, however, had been practised upon, at least till 
after the year 1798, without the aid of the latter. The op- 
position in Congress to the building of vessels of war till 
that period, withheld from the government the means of 
employing force to lessen the amount or secure the effect of 
presents. 

Great sums had been paid in specie and articles of war. 



NAVAL PREPARATIONS, 95 

especially to Algiers. The new bashaw of Tripoli, who 
had deposed his elder brother, wishing to gratify his sub- 
jects — thinking to sell his friendship to us at a high rate, 
and perhaps expecting the co-operation of one or more of 
the African governments, sent out his cruisers against our 
trade. The United States' squadrons, first under Commo- 
dore Dale, and next under Commodore Morris, had fur- 
nished protection to our commerce and seamen by convoys ; 
and had annoyed Tripoli by blockading her principal cruiser 
in Gibraltar, and by attacking and dismantling another. 
Still the bashaw had not received such an impression of our 
ability and determination to make the war distressing to 
him, as to be inclined, on admissible terms, to discontinue 
his piracies. " Specks of war," and symptoms of insolence 
in the other Barbary States, rendered it important they 
should have a stronger conviction of the inconvenience and 
danger of refusing to be at peace with the United States. 
The commanders before Mr. Preble, had urged the neces- 
sity of an increase of our force in those seas, and, if Tri- 
jK)li was to be blockaded with effect, had recommended that 
a larger proportion of the squadron should be small vessels^ 
who might easily relieve each other. The last suggestion, 
not the former, appears to have been regarded by the go- 
vernment in the armament now in readiness. 

Notwithstanding the most strenuous exertion, the commo- 
dore was not ready to sail with the Constitution till the 13th 
of August. The wages in the merchant service being highei 
than those to public ships, it was found difficult to get her 
manned at all, and still more with native American sailors. 

On his passage to Gibraltar, he brought-to and visited, 
7th September, the frigate Maimona, 30 guns and 150 mono 
belonging to the Emperor of Morocco. After three several 
examinations of her papers, which were fair, he dismissed 
her, though he afterwards believed she was authorised to 
capture Americans. He arrived at Gibraltar 12th Septem- 
ber, and immediately found work to fill his hand in the po- 
sition of our affairs with Morocco. Captain Bainbridge 



96 CAPTURE OF A MOORISH SHIP. 

had, on the 26th August, captured the Moorish ship Mir- 
boka, of 22 guns and 100 men. This ship had sailed from 
Tangier August 7th. Among her papers was an order to 
cruise for Americans. It was not signed, but declared by 
the captain to have been delivered to him sealed, with a di- 
rection to open it at sea, by Hashash, governor of Tangier. 
She had taken the American brig Celia, Captain Bowen, 
which was then in company, and which Captain Bainbridge 
retook and restored to the owner. The last of May, Cap- 
tain Rogers had detained the Mishouda, a Tripolitan vessel 
under Morocco colours. She had a passport from the Ame- 
rican consul, with a reserve for blockaded ports. She was 
taken attempting to go into Tripoli, which Captain Rogers, 
in the John Adams, was known to be blockading. On 
board her were guns and other contraband articles not in 
her when she received her passport at Gibraltar; also 20 
Tripolitan subjects taken in at Algiers. The appearance 
was that she had been taken under the imperial flag for the 
purpose of being restored to our enemy. The emperor de- 
nied authorising the attempt of the Mishouda, and said if 
she was given up the captain should be punished. The go- 
vernor Hashash, on learning the capture of the Mirboka, at 
which time the emperor was absent, declared she acted 
without authority, and that war was not intended. At the 
same time, her captain certified that this governor gave him 
his orders. Hashash was, and continued to be in the con- 
fidence of Muley Soliman. He had said " do what you 
please and I will support you." 

The next day after his arrival. Commodore Preble wrote 
to the consul, Simpson, at Tangier, desiring him to assure 
the Moorish court, that the United States wished peace 
with his majesty, if it could be had on proper terms — that 
he could not suppose the emperor's subjects would dare to 
make war without his permission ; but as their authority 
was disavowed by the governor, he should punish as a pi- 
rate every Moorish cruiser, who should be found to have 
taken an American. 



COM. PREBLE AT TANGIER. 97 

Commodore Rogers, on whom the command of the former 
squadron under Morris devolved, and who was under orders 
to return to the United States with the frigates New-York 
and John Adams, agreed to remain a few days on the sta- 
tion, and to join Commodore Preble in Tangier bay, to as- 
sist in effecting an adjustment. 

On the 17th, taking into his ship the principal Moorish 
officers of the two prizes, he appeared, with the Constitu- 
tion and John Adams, in Tangier bay, hoisting the white 
flag in token of peace, but having the men at quarters. Mr. 
Simpson, however, was not permitted to come on board, nor 
to write except on an open slip of paper ; being confined to 
his house, with two sentinels at his door, by order, as was 
said, of the governor of Tangier. The governor was at 
Tetuan, and the emperor was absent at Fez and not ex- 
pected for several days. 

Another act of hostility had been done at Mogadore, by 
an order to detain all American vessels, and the actual 
seizure of the brig Hannah, of Salem, Joseph M. Williams 
master. 

The commodore was confirmed in the propriety and be- 
nefit of a high tone and vigorous measures. He observes, 
in his communications to the government, " that all the Bar- 
bary powers, except Algiers, appear to have a disposition 
to quarrel with us, unless we tamely submit to any propo- 
sitions they may choose to make. Their demands will in^ 
crease, and be such as our government ought not to comply 
with." — " They send out their cruisers, — if they prove suc- 
cessful it is war, and we must purchase peace, suffering 
them to keep all they have taken ; and if they are unfortu- 
nate, and we capture their cruisers before they have taken 
any thing valuable, it is not war, although the orders for 
capturing are found on board ; and we must restore all." 
This he iDelieved ought not, and need not be suffered. It 
was equally disgraceful and impolitic for a nation, whose 
navigation and commerce were second in the world, and 
whose resources of skill and courage are abundant, to allow 
9 N 



98 DISPOSITION OF OUR FORCE. 

these barbarians to think they might have peace on any 
terms they might please to dictate. Under these impressions 
he did not hesitate to use his discretion, although specific 
instructions on this subject were not given, and follow his 
own ideas of what expediency and honour required, taking 
a firm attitude towards the aggressor. This he would have 
done, and risked the consequences, if he had been backed 
by no force other than that of his peculiar squadron. The 
consent of Commodore Rogers to co-operate with the two 
frigates under his control, left no room for question. Our 
officer believed the Emperor of Morocco had long meditated 
to make war when a pretext should be furnished, and a pros- 
pect of impunity offered. It was essential he should know 
the system of concession was abandoned. 

Accordingly the commodore took a decided course. He 
gave orders to his squadron to bring in for examination all 
vessels belonging to the emperor and his subjects; despatched 
three vessels to cruise off" Mogadore, Salee and Zarach, and 
one off Tetuan, and entered the bay of Tangier at several 
times. 

That the Tripolitans might not think they were forgotten, 
he despatched the Philadelphia and Vixen to lie before 
Tripoli. 

The consul, Simpson, made representations to the empe- 
ror, who was absent, before and after the arrival of Com- 
modore Preble, explaining our hostile movements. The 
answers received were general, but showed that if he had 
authorised war, he was now prepared to disavow it ; and 
if the orders for the capture and detention of American 
vessels had been the acts of his governor, given under a 
general discretion, he would refuse his sanction. 

The excessive bad weather obliged Mr. Preble to keep 
harbour in Gibraltar several days. When this permitted, 
he was cruising, occasionally standing in to Tangier bay. 
Oft the 5th of October, when his majesty was expected, he 
anchored, with the Nautilus in company, in Tangier bay — 
the circular battery at the town W. ^ S. 1^ miles distant. 



EMPEROR OF MOROCCO. 99 

Here he remained, only changing his ground once to be 
nearer the town, until peace was concluded. He was joined 
in the afternoon of the 6th by the frigates New-York and 
John Adams. The ship was kept constantly cleared for 
action, and the men at quarters night and day. On the 6th 
his majesty arrived with a great body of troops, horse and 
foot, estimated at 5000, who encamped on the beach oppo- 
site the squadron. The consular flag on shore indicating 
that the emperor had come and was in view of the ship, 
the commodore was careful to order the ship dressed and a 
salute of 21 guns, which was returned from the fort with 
an equal number, as was the salute of the other frigates in 
the morning following. The consul gave information, that 
when the emperor's minister arrived the negotiation would 
be opened. 

A present (of bullocks, sheep and fowls) was ordered for 
the squadron, as a token of the emperor's good will. 

On the 8th, the emperor, with his court and a large body 
of troops, visited the beach and batteries on the bay for the 
purpose of viewing the United States squadron, when the 
Constitution saluted again with 21 guns — a compliment 
with which the king and court, as the consul reported, were 
very much gratified. The present arriving at the same 
time, it was acknowledged by three guns, according to 
Moorish custom. The Moorish captain of the port and 
several respectable Moors, friends to the prisoners on board, 
came off to see their friends. The following day the consul 
gave notice that the emperor had given an order under his 
hand and private seal, to the governor of Mogadore, for the 
release of the American brig detained at that place, and 
that Monday was appointed for giving an audience to the 
commodore and consul. 

On the day assigned, the 11th, the commodore, accompa- 
nied by Col. Lear, Mr. Morris, as secretary, and two mid- 
shipmen, landed at Tangier for the proposed audience. He 
believed there was no danger in landing ; but he expressed 
his desire, that if he should be forcibly detained, the com- 



100 TREATY WITH MOROCCO. 

mandiiig officer on board would not enter into treaty for his 
release, or consider his personal safety ; but open a fire upon 
the town. They were ushered into the castle and the pre- 
sence of the sovereign through a double file of guards. 
The commodore at the entrance was requested, according 
to Moorish custom in such cases, to dispose of his side-arms. 
He said he must comply with the custom of his own coun- 
try, and retain them, which was allowed. On coming into 
the imperial presence, our officer and the consul were re- 
quested to advance near the emperor, with whom they con- 
versed by an interpreter. He expressed much sorrow and 
regret that any diflferences had arisen, for he was at peace 
with the United States. He disavowed having given any 
hostile orders ; said he would restore all American vessels 
and property detained in consequence of any act of his go- 
vernors, and renew and confirm the treaty made with his 
father in 1786. — The commodore and consul, on the part 
of the United States, promised that the vessels and pro- 
perty of the emperor should be restored, and the orders of 
capture revoked. They proceeded to an interview with 
the minister, where the details were settled. The mutual 
stipulations were forthwith executed, the Mirboka being 
appraised, with a view to the indemnification of the captors 
by our government. The commodore received a formal 
ratification of the treaty of 1786, and a letter of friendship 
and peace to the president, signed by the emperor. 

Thus, by the happy union of prudence and energy, se- 
conded by a competent force, we escaped war with a power 
from his situation formidable, and placed our affairs with 
him in a better condition than before the variance.* 

Having thus adjusted the difficulties that had been started 
by the equivocal and crooked policy of the Emperor of Mo- 
rocco towards the American government, the commodore 
directed his attention against Tripoli. . The Philadelphia, 
Captain Bainbridge, being despatched, previously, to recon- 
noitre, standing five leagues to the eastward of that town, 
* Port Folio for May 1810. 



LOSS OF THE PHILADELPHIA. 101 

descried a sail in-shorej to which chase was immediately 
given. When it was seen that no efforts could prevent her 
escape, the Philadelphia, in beating off, was found to be in 
only seven fathoms water, and almost immediately struck. 
Every effort was exerted to lighten her, but in vain. The 
greatest depth of water was ascertained to be astern. All 
sails were laid aback ; the top-gallant sails loosened ; three 
anchors thrown away from the bows ; the water in the hold 
started ; and all the guns thrown overboard, excepting a 
few aloft, to defend the ship against the Tripolitan gun- 
boats, then advancing upon her: the foremast was cut 
away ; but every attempt proved ineffectual. The Phila- 
delphia, deprived of the power of resistance, was compelled 
to strike to superior numbers of the enemy, who, with their 
gun-boats, covered the sea. The Tripolitans took possession 
of the frigate ; and her officers and crew, to the number of 
three hundred, were made prisoners. Subsequently, on a 
change of wind, the Tripolitans got off the frigate, and 
towed her into the harbour. 

Captain Bainbridge and his fellow-prisoners were carried 
before the bashaw, and thence conducted to the house pre- 
viously occupied by Mr. Cathcart, the American consul. 
The officers were placed on parole, with a guarantee, from 
the bashaw's minister, for their security and forthcoming. 

Shortly after, Commodore Preble captured a schooner, 
off Tripoli, having on board the presents of the bashaw to 
the Grand Signior, and several distinguished officers. It 
was expected that so opportune a capture might, if it did 
not facilitate a peace, at least afford the means of procuring 
a release of the crew of the Philadelphia. The commodore 
immediately proffered an exchange. The bashaw returned 
an answer, with indirect proposals for peace ; but the terms 
consisted of inadmissible principles, viz. the ransom of the 
officers and crew, for five hundred dollars each, and the 
payment of an annual tribute from the United States, as 
the price of peace. Beyond this, he offered to restore the 
Philadelphia for the schooner. On the rejection of these 
9* 



102 PLAN TO DESTROY THE FRIGATE. 

terms, the bashaw varied his position, and offered an ex- 
change of the American officers and men, for the Tripolitan 
prisoners, man for man, as far as they would go ; a delivery 
of the remainder for four hundred dollars each ; an ex- 
change of the frigate for the captured schooner ; and a rati- 
fication of peace, but with an annual tribute. These were, 
in like manner, rejected. 

Captain Bainbridge,* who had been captured in the fri- 
gate Philadelphia, and still remained a prisoner in Tripoli, 
continued, by writing with sympathetic ink, to hold a cor- 
respondence with Commodore Preble, and his suggestions 
were of the highest importance to the success of the expe- 
dition. By the assistance of Mr. Nissen, the Danish consul 
to Tripoli, who was unwearied in his acts of kindness to 
the American prisoners, he transmitted a letter to Commo- 
dore Preble, in which he informed him that he thought it 
practicable to destroy the frigate Philadelphia at her moor- 
ings in the harbour of Tripoli. He added, that all the ene- 
my's gun-boats were hauled up on shore, and from the ram- 
parts he had observed, in addition to the castle, only one 
small battery with a few awkwardly mounted guns. To 
accomplish the object he suggested the following plan : 

" Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men, 
and have her commanded by fearless and determined offi- 
cers. Let the vessel enter the harbour at night, with her 
men secreted below deck — steer her directly on board the 
frigate, and then let the officers and men board, sword in 
hand, and there was not a doubt of their success, and with- 
out any very heavy loss. It would be necessary to take 
several good row-boats, in order to facilitate the retreat, 
after the enterprise had been accomplished. The frigate, in 
her present condition, is a powerful auxiliary battery for 
the defence of the harbour. Though it will be impossible 
to remove her from her anchorage, and thus restore this 
beautiful vessel to our navy ; yet, as she may, and no doubt 



* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. 



BAINBRIDGE'S ADVICE. 103 

will be repaired, an important end would be gained by her 
destruction." 

Commodore Preble highly approved of the plan suggested, 
which he submitted to the consideration of several of his 
confidential officers. By the first opportunity, he wrote to 
Captain Bainbridge, that concurring with him as to the 
practicability of destroying the frigate Philadelphia, he was 
making preparations for that purpose, and that his friend, 
Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, had volunteered to command 
the enterprise. 

In another letter to Commodore Preble, dated from pri- 
son, the 26th of March, 1804, he states, "The destruction 
of Tripoli could be effected, by sending three or four thou- 
sand troops, and if it were possible to preserve profound 
secresy, as to the expedition, I have no doubt, a much less 
force would accomplish it. I am clearly of opinion, that if 
you had about eighteen or twenty ship's-boats, you could 
destroy all the gun-boats, which would be attended with 
the most favourable consequences towards a peace." 

On the 7th of July, he again writes, " I gave you my 
opinion, that firing shell into this town, if it was done in 
the night, would drive all the inhabitants to the country, 
where there are not habitations to receive them ; and by 
continuing to heave them from time to time, for a month or 
two, the distress that the people would be in, by being kept 
out of town, would make them clamorous." 

July the 8th, " I believe the bashaw expects an attack, 
for he has moved his family to the gardens, and comes in 
every evening. I hope you will be able to reduce this 
place; but don't you think that ship's-boats would answer 
better than gun-boats ? The former would be more man- 
ageable for attack in the harbour, which must be sudden 
and furious. Cursed fate ! which deprives me of sharing 
in the danger and glory." 

On the 15th of February, 1804, about midnight, Captain 
Bainbridge and the other American officers imprisoned at 
Tripoli, were suddenly awakened, by the rapid discharge 



104 PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK. 

of heavy artillery from the Tripolitan batteries. They 
sprang to the windows, and were delighted to observe the 
frigate Philadelphia, the boasted trophy of the bashaw, 
wrapt in devouring flames. This spectacle was particularly 
gratifying to Captain Bainbridge, as he witnessed in it the 
accomplishment of his own scheme, which he had submitted 
some time before to Commodore Preble, and saw removed 
at the same time the vessel which he daily grudged to be- 
hold in the possession of the enemy. 

This brilliant enterprise was achieved by Lieutenant Ste- 
phen Decatur, and his brave followers. After Commodore 
Preble had received Captain Bainbridge's letter, containing 
his plan for the destruction of the captured frigate, he sub- 
mitted it to Lieutenant Decatur, who promptly offered to 
command the expedition. The crew of the United States 
frigate were piped on deck for the purpose of obtaining vol- 
unteers. As usual on such occasions on board United 
States' vessels, twice the number volunteered that were re- 
quired. Of these, seventy broad-shouldered gallant-looking 
fellows were selected, and were ordered to hold themselves 
in readiness for service. Among the volunteers was a slen- 
der youth of nineteen, who had belonged to the congrega- 
tion of Friends, in Philadelphia, and who, for some trifling 
breach of discipline, had determined to encounter the dangers 
of the sea, rather than the rebuke of the sages of his own 
society. Being overlooked in the selection made by Deca- 
tur, he begged to be allowed to accompany the expedition, 
but only received the short reply, that the complement was 
complete. Unwilling to be thus put off", he again solicited 
Decatur with great eagerness, as he was about to pass over 
the gangway of the ship, to accept of him as a volunteer. 
This unusual importunity awakened the curiosity of the 
lieutenant, who turned towards the youth, surveyed him 
with his penetrating eye, and sternly asked him why he 
was so anxious to go on an enterprise so perilous. The lad 
blushed, and recollecting, perhaps, his peaceful education, 
would not say, he wished to engage in battle, but modestly 







-^~»^ 



j%Cooki' 



cm)^ 



^rOMMOID'OM-E 



STEFMIEW BMCCATIDTB., HIS,, 



D Ajmletou S Onmjjanv, 2nn .(ii-u.uhv.iT- 



DESTRUCTION OF THE FRIGATE. 105 

remarked, " I wish to see the parts." I need not add, that 
his services were accepted.* 

A Tripolitan ketch, which Decatur had captured a few 
days before, and which was now called the Intrepid, was 
fitted out to carry them to the harbour of Tripoli. The 
officers selected for the enterprise, were Lieutenant James 
Lawrence and Joseph Bainbridge, with Midshipmen Charles 
Morris f and John Henley. The Intrepid, in company with 
the brig Syren, Lieutenant Charles Stewart, sailed from 
Syracuse on the 3d of February ; and, after a tempestuous 
passage of twelve days, arrived about twilight off their des- 
tined harbour. The hour of ten was assigned to meet the 
boats of the Syren, which were to accompany the expedi- 
tion ; but, in consequence of the change of wind, the two 
vessels became separated six or eight miles. As there was 
danger in delay, Decatur resolved to gain the inner harbour. 
Accordingly, at 9 o'clock, he increased his sail ; but, owing 
to the lightness of the wind, three hours were lost in pass- 
ing three miles. When within about a hundred yards, he 
was hailed from the frigate, and threatened with being fired 
into, unless he immediately came to anchor. A Maltese 
pilot, who was on board, was directed to say that the an- 
chors were lost. The ketch, when within fifty yards of the 
Philadelphia, being completely becalmed. Lieutenant Deca- 
tur ordered a rope to be carried out in a boat, and fastened 
to the forechains of the frigate. This point being gained, 
the craft was quickly warped alongside, before her true 
character was suspected by the Tripolitans. Decatur im- 
mediately sprang on board, with the gallant midshipman 
Morris by his side, quickly followed by the other officers 
and men. Though a short interval elapsed before the crew 
succeeded in mounting after them, such was the consterna- 
tion of the Turks, that they took no advantage of this de- 
lay. The brave commander, with his gallant followers, 
now rushed, sword in hand, on the enemy, who were 
crowded together on the forecastle, and soon overpowered 

* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. t The present Commodore Morris. 

o 



106 BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI. 

them ; but not until a large proportion of them were killed, 
wounded, or thrown overboard. 

Being prepared with matches and combustibles, each offi- 
cer ran to such points of the ship as had been assigned him 
by previous arrangement, and thus fired her in a number 
of places at the same time. In a few seconds, she was en- 
veloped in flames. It required great exertions to save the 
Intrepid from destruction — she was attached to a vessel in 
a state of fearful conflagration — was fired upon by the wa- 
ter-battery and castle at the same time, and had it not been 
for a favourable breeze, which at that juncture sprung up, 
escape would have been impossible. In this gallant enter- 
prise, none of the Americans were killed, and only four 
wounded. It may not be improper to add, that the stripling 
Friend, to whom allusion has been already made, was among 
the first to board, and the foremost in the daring charge on 
the forecastle. He was ever afterwards a prime favourite 
in the squadron. 

Nothing could exceed the rage of the bashaw at the loss 
of his valuable prize. He ordered the prison to be imme- 
diately surrounded by guards, and interrupted all inter- 
course between the officers and men. On the 1st of March, 
they were conducted under a strong guard to the castle, 
and confined in a cold and damp apartment, with only one 
opening at the top, which was grated with iron. Through 
this aperture alone they received light and air. In this 
place they were entombed during the remainder of their 
captivity. The condition of the prisoners was, however, 
in no small degree, alleviated by the unwearied attentions 
of Mr. Nissen, the benevolent Dane. 

On the 12th of July, 1804, Commodore Preble appeared 
off* Tripoli with a small squadron. On the 3d of August, 
at 3 P. M., commenced a tremendous fire between our men- 
of-war, and the Tripolitan castle, batteries, and gun-boats. 
Shot and shells were thrown into every quarter of the city, 
causing the greatest consternation among the inhabitants. 
The firing attracted the attention of the officers to the high 



ATTACK ON THE GUN-BOATS. 107 

grated window of the prison, from which they observed 
witli uiisjx'akahle pride, three of the American gun-boats 
bear down, in galhmt style, on the enemy's eastern division, 
consisting of nine vessels of the same class. As our vessels 
advanced, a few well-directed rounds of grape and mus- 
ketry were fired, and as soon as the vessels came in contact, 
our gallant countrymen boarded sword in hand, and, after 
a fierce contest of a few minutes, they captured three of 
the Tripolitan gun-boats; the other six precipitately Hed. 
At the moment of victory, Captain Decatur was informed 
that his brother. Lieutenant James Decatur, had been trea- 
cherously shot by a Tripolitan commander, after he had 
boarded and captured him. The fearless Decatur immedi- 
ately pursued the murderer, and, succeeding in getting 
alongside just as he was retreating within the enemy's lines, 
he boarded with only eleven followers. Decatur immedi- 
ately attacked the Tripolitan commander, who was armed 
with spear and cutlass. In the contest, which for a time 
appeared doubtful, Decatur broke his sword near the hilt. 
He seized his enemy's spear, and, after a violent struggle, 
succeeded in throwing him on the deck. The Turk now 
drew from his belt a dirk, and, when in the act of striking, 
Decatur caught his arm, drew from his pocket a pistol, and 
shot him through the head. During the continuance of this 
terrible struggle, the crews of each vessel impetuously 
rushed to the assistance of their respective commanders. 
Such was the carnage in this furious and desperate battle, 
that it was with difficulty Decatur could extricate himself 
from the killed and wounded by which he was surrounded. 
In this af!kir an American sailor, named Keuben James, 
manifested the most heroic self-devotion. Seeing a Tripo- 
litan officer aiming a blow at Decatur's head, whilst he was 
struggling with his prostrate foe, and which must have 
proved fatal, had not the generous and fearless tar, who 
had been deprived of the use of both his hands, by severe 
wounds, rushed between the sabre and his commander, and 



108 RESULTS OF THE ACTION. 

received the blow on his head, by which his skull was frac- 
tured.* 

The boat commanded by Lieutenant Joseph Bainbridge 
received a shot that carried away her lateen-yards, by 
which all his exertions to get alongside of the enemy were 
rendered altogether unavailing. Being within musket-shot, 
however, he directed a brisk fire, which did great execution. 
Unable to manage his boat without sails, she grounded near 
the enemy's batteries ; but, by courage and great exertions, 
she was extricated from her perilous situation. ' 

Captain Somers, being unable to beat to windward, in 
order to co-operate with Decatur, bore down with his single 
boat, on the leeward division of the enemy, and attacked, 
within pistol-shot, five of the Tripolitan vessels. He main- 
tained the action with great spirit until the other division 
of the enemy was defeated, when this also precipitately fled 
within their harbour. 

The enemy's boats again rallied, and attempted to sur- 
round the American gun-boats and prizes. This bold en- 
terprise was defeated, however, by the advance of Commo- 
dore Preble, in the frigate Constitution, which, by a few 
spirited broadsides, eftectually covered the retreat of the 
brave little squadron, which had so signally triumphed. 
The frigate Constitution, bomb-vessels, &c., created great 
alarm and confusion in the city, by throwing shot and shells. 
The frigate was several times within three cables' length 
of the batteries, and each time silenced those against which 
her broadsides were directed. These advantages, however, 
the gallant commander was unable to secure without more 
assistance, for, so soon as he changed his position, the firing 
recommenced at the points of the fort, from which the men 
had been driven. 

Availing themselves of the land-breeze, which commenced 
to blow between four and five in the afternoon, the squadron 
retired from the action. The damages sustained by the 
Americans were quite inconsiderable, when compared with 

* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. 



TRIPOLI AGAIN ATTACKED. 109 

the apparent danger to which they were exposed. The loss 
of the enemy was very great. The three boats captiired 
from the Tripolitans contained one hundred and three men, 
of whom forty-seven were killed, and twenty-six wounded. 
Three of their boats were sunk, and the crews buried in 
the waves. A number of guns in the batteries were dis- 
mounted, the city was considerably injured, and many of 
the inhabitants killed. A great proportion of the inhabit- 
ants, and all the foreign consuls fled from the city, with the 
exception of the benevolent Mr. Nissen. So devoted was 
he to the American prisoners, that he remained at the risk 
of his life and property, in order that he might contribute 
to their comfort. 

During one of the attacks, a twenty-four pound shot en- 
tered the window of a small room in the turret, where Mr! 
Nissen, but a moment before, had been examining the ope- 
rations of the squadron. This shot continues lodged in the 
wall, and was shown to Commodore Decatur, in the year 
1815, by another Danish consul. Several shells fell in Mr. 
Nissen's house, during the bombardment, but as they did 
not explode, little injury was done.* 

On the 7th, the squadron repeated their attack, conducted 
with ability and effect, surpassing, if possible, the former 
one; and on the 29th, a most desperate engagement took 
place. One hundred and twenty rounds were fired by the 
American squadron, which did extensive injury to the town 
and batteries. One polacre, and several gun-boats, were 
sunk on the part of the enemy. The Constitution frigate 
anchored within pistol-shot of the principal shore-battery, 
and received twelve shot in her hull. The Tripolitans, on 
this occasion, mustered very strong; and their batteries, 
mounting one hundred and fifteen guns, were well served. 
Forty-five thousand Arabs defended the town, in addition 
to the ordinary population ; and the harbour was flanked 
by one brig, two schooners, and nineteen gun-boats.f 



* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. f Ramsay's United States, 

10 



110 AFFAIR OF THE INTREPID. 

On the 4th of September, the ketch Intrepid, fitted up as 
an explosion vessel, was sent in, filled with one hundred bar- 
rels of powder, and three hundred shells, to burn the Tri- 
politan vessels in their own harbour, which service was en- 
trusted to Lieutenant Somers, accompanied by Lieutenants 
Wads worth and Israel, and ten men, with orders to ap- 
proach as near to the town and batteries as possible. The 
party took with them two fast-rowing boats, wherein they 
were, after applying the matches, to escape to the Syren, 
which followed to receive them. Two of the enemy's gal- 
leys, containing one hundred men each, rowed up at the 
critical moment, and laying alongside, the explosion sud- 
denly took place, with the most awful effect, and blew them 
with their contents into the air. It was generally supposed 
that the lamented and undaunted Somers, perceiving all 
means of escape cut off, and preferring loss of life to igno- 
minious slavery, set fire to the powder with his own hand, 
and consigned to destruction himself, his comrades, and all 
of the enemy who surrounded him. About one hundred 
shells fell into the town and castle, spreading consternation 
in every direction. 

These exploits shed a lustre upon the American naval 
character, and particularly on the skill and enterprise of 
Commodore Preble, who directed them. Among other tes- 
timonies to his well-earned fame. Sir Alexander Ball, a dis- 
tinguished admiral in the British navy, addressed him in 
the following terms, on his quitting a command rendered 
memorable by numerous feats of heroism and ability : 

" I beg leave to repeat my congratulation, on the services 
you have rendered your country, and the hair-breadth es- 
capes you have had, in setting so distinguished an example 
to your countrymen, whose bravery and enterprise cannot 
fail to mark the character of a great and rising nation, in 
a manner that will ultimately be attended with the best and 
most important consequences to your country. 

" If I were to offer my humble opinion, it would be that 
you have done well, in not purchasing a peace with money. 



COMMODORE PREBLE RETURNS. Ill 

A few brave men have been sacrificed ; but they could not 
have fallen in a better cause. And I even conceive it bet- 
ter to risk more lives, than submit to terms which might 
encourage the Barbary states in their demands and insults.'- 

Commodore Preble had gained, during the whole of his 
command, the uninterrupted esteem and affection of his. offi- 
cers, who addressed him, on his taking leave, in the warm- 
est terms of regard and friendship. On his arrival in the 
United States, he was greeted with the liveliest acknow- 
ledgments of a grateful nation. Congress voted him their 
thanks for his signal services to his country, and requested 
the President to bestow on him an emblematical gold medal. 
Commodore Preble was the first officer who received the 
thanks of the citizens of the United States, by their repre- 
sentatives and senators in congress assembled, since the 
adoption of the federal constitution, and the institution of 
the present form of government. 

It was ascertained that the crew of the Philadelphia, cap- 
tives in Tripoli, were treated with the most barbarous cru- 
elty. They were compelled to submit to the extremities 
of weather, fatigue, privations, and stripes. They were 
chained to loaded carts, and, like oxen, obliged to drag them 
through the town. Every remonstrance of Captain Bain- 
bridge, in behalf of his suffering men, was unheeded, and 
all his efforts to mitigate their misfortunes were rendered 
unavailing. 

A fresh enterprise, novel in its character, but, romantic 
as it may appear, wisely planned as to its object, was now 
determined upon, in connexion with a naval armament, with 
a view to the liberation of the prisoners, and the compulsion 
of the enemy to make peace. This was an expedition con- 
certed with Hamet, the ex-bashaw of Tripoli, who had been 
unjustly deprived of the government, and expelled by his 
brother, the reigning bashaw. 

To General William Eaton, this important mission was 
confided, who proceeded forthwith to make arrangements 
for its execution. Eaton, in his share of the bold and ardu- 
ous undertaking, acquitted himself with distinguished lustre, 



112 EXPEDITION OF GENERAL EATON. 

under all the trying circumstances in which he was placed. 
After great difficulties, which perseverance and patience, 
almost unexampled, alone enabled him to surmount, he ef- 
fected an interview with the ci-devant bashaw, then an 
exile in Upper Egypt, and commanding an army of Mame- 
lukes, at war with the Turkish government. Hamet highly 
approved the scheme, and appointed the general to the com- 
mand of the forces destined for its accomplishment. 

On the 6th of March, 1805, General Eaton, accompanied 
by Hamet, commenced his march from Alexandria, at the 
head of a respectable force of well-mounted Arabs, and 
other partisans of Hamet, with about seventy Christians. 
After accomplishing a route of one thousand miles, a paral- 
lel to which, in peril, fatigue and suffering, can hardly be 
found but in romance, he arrived before Derne, on the 25th 
of April, 1805. The views of the expedition had been dis- 
covered by the reigning bashaw, and he advanced an army 
for the defence of the province, within one day's march of 
Derne, when the general arrived before it. No time was, 
therefore, to be lost. On the morning of the 26th, a flag 
was sent to the governor, with overtures of friendship, on 
condition of his immediate surrender of the city, and his 
future allegiance to Hamet. He returned for answer : " My 
head or yours !" 

On the 27th, Derne was assaulted, and, after a contest of 
two hours and a half, carried with the bayonet. The as- 
sault was supported by part of the American squadron, 
which had previously arrived in the bay, as agreed upon. 
The governor and his adherents fled ; some to the desert, 
and others to the advancing Tripolitan army. The Chris- 
tians suffered severely in the action ; placing themselves in 
the van, to encourage their allies, they were peculiarly ex- 
posed, and nearly one-third of them were killed or wounded. 
The general himself was wounded in the wrist by a mus- 
ket-ball. 

The army was now employed in fortifying the captured 
city. Hamet, the new ally of the United States, opened 
his divan in the palace of the late governor ; and his autho- 



CAPTURE OF DERNE. 113 

rity was universally submitted to by the inhabitants, and 
surrounding country. 

On the 18th of May, the Tripolitan army advanced, and 
attacked the city : but, after a contest of four hours, with 
various success, the assailants were forced to retire precipi- 
tately beyond the mountains. The issue of this contest 
revives, in the recollection, all that is recorded in history 
and romance, of the feats of Sir William Wallace and his 
valorous partisans. The Christians engaged the barbarians 
in the proportion of tens to hundreds, and actually put them 
to flight. 

Several minor skirmishes took place between the con- 
tending parties, about the skirts of the city, until the 10th 
of June, when a general battle was fought, which termi- 
nated in the repulse of the assailants. The vessels in the 
harbour co-operated most effectually, and by their well- 
directed fire, checked in every instance the advance of the 
Tripolitans. 

On the following day, the Constitution frigate arrived in 
the harbour of Derne. Her appearance communicated 
fresh terror to the enemy, who fled in great confusion to 
the desert, leaving behind the greater part of their baggage. 

The operations of General Eaton, which had been, and 
were likely to be, marked with the most brilliant successes, 
were now suspended, by the conclusion of a treaty between 
the reigning bashaw and Tobias Lear, Esq., on the part of 
the United States, in June, 1805. 

This treaty, among the provisions for terminating the ex- 
isting misunderstandings, and regulating the intercourse 
between the United States and Tripoli, stipulated the release 
of all the American prisoners, for the sum of $60,000. It 
also engaged, that the Americans, in withdrawing their 
forces, should use their influence to induce Hamet to retire. 

The frigate President sailed from Syracuse, on the 7th of 
July, 1805, and arrived in the United States, on the 6th of 
August ; having on board the released prisoners. Thus ter- 
minated the first war in the Mediterranean. 
10* p 



114 



AGGRESSIONS OF THE BRITISH. 



CHAPTER X. 

Affairs of the Chesapeake and Little Belt. 

U R I N G the long peace 
which followed the war 
with Tripoli, the navy- 
was greatly neglected. 
At the same time Great 
Britain being engaged in 
a war with France and 
several other continental 
powers in alliance with 
Napoleon, resorted to the 
practice of impressing 
the seamen of the United 
States. This system was 
carried to such an extent 
that ultimately several thousand native Americans were 
estimated to have been impressed, and held in compulsory 
service in the British ships of war ; and this was one of the 
chief causes assigned for the war which ultimately ensued 
between the two countries. 

The forbearance of our government, at one time increased 
the insolence of the British commanders to such an extent, 
that, not content w ith impressing seamen from merchant 
vessels, they even went so far as to attack one of the na- 
tional ships, in time of profound peace between the two 
countries, and, having surprised and captured her, to re- 
move some of her men and claim their services as British 
subjects. The following are the circumstances attending 
this outrageous affair : 

On the 6th of March, 1807, a letter was sent by the Brit- 
ish consul at Norfolk to Captain Decatur, requiring him to 




ATTACK UPON THE CHESAPEAKE. 115 

deliver up three seamen who had entered into the United 
States' service, and vv^ho, he said, had deserted from the 
British ship Melampus. With this requisition, Lieutenant 
Sinclair, the recruiting officer, refused to comply. Commo- 
dore Barron, on board whose ship, the Chesapeake, they 
had entered, upon inquiry, found that these men were all 
native Americans. On the 22d of June, the Chesapeake 
left the Capes, bound to the Mediterranean. She passed 
the British squadron, at anchor in Hampton Roads, without 
being molested. A few hours after, a sail was discovered 
standing for her. On coming up, she proved to be the Brit- 
ish ship Leopard, of 50 guns. Captain Humphries, her 
commander, hailed the Chesapeake, and said he had a des- 
patch to deliver from the British commander-in-chief. Com- 
modore Barron, supposing it was a despatch for Europe, 
hove-to. Captain Humphries then sent an officer on board 
with a letter covering an order from Admiral Berkeley to 
take out of the Chesapeake three men, said to be deserters 
from the British frigate Melampus. Commodore Barron 
replied by letter, that he knew of no such men being on 
board his ship ; and that he could not permit his crew to be 
mustered by any one but her own officers. As soon as the 
officer returned, the Leopard ranged alongside, and com- 
menced a heavy fire. The Chesapeake was altogether in 
an unprepared state ; her guns and decks were lumbered 
with sails, cables, &c. ; and her men were not at quarters 
till the commencement of the attack. No opposition was 
made. The British commander continued pouring his broad- 
sides into the undefended ship for about thirty minutes ; 
when the Chesapeake having received considerable damage 
in her hull, rigging, and spars, struck. She had three men 
killed, and eighteen wounded. The Leopard ceased firing, 
sent her boat on board, and took out four men. The Che- 
sapeake returned to Hampton Roads. The conduct of 
Commodore Barron was censured, by a court of inquiry 
convened for the purpose, for not having his ship cleared 
for action, when it was probable he might be attacked, and 



116 PRESIDENT AND LITTLE BELT. 

for not making exertions to defend her when attacked. He 
was suspended from his command. 

Great was the sensation occasioned in the United States 
by this affair. Town meetings were held in every part 
of the Union and resolutions passed reprobating in the 
strongest language so gross a violation of the laws of neu- 
trality, and declaring their determination to support the 
government, with their lives and fortunes, in the measures 
it might adopt, to obtain reparation for the injury and 
insult offered to the country. The President of the United 
States issued a Proclamation forbidding all British armed 
vessels from entering the ports and harbours of the United 
States, and prohibiting all the inhabitants of the United 
States from furnishing them with supplies of any descrip- 
tion, or from administering to their wants in any manner 
whatever. The British government disavowed the act of 
Admiral Berkeley, and for a time suspended him ; but soon 
after appointed him to a more important command. 

The affair of the Little Belt, which took place at a later 
period, having reference to the same subject of impressment, 
is here introduced out of the order of time. 

Early in the month of May, 1811, Commodore Rodgers, 
commanding the frigate President, received orders from the 
Secretary of the Navy, to proceed from Annapolis, where 
he then was, to his station at New-York. This order was 
issued in consequence of the trade of New-York being in- 
terrupted by British and French cruisers. At the same 
time the commodore received information that a young man, 
an apprentice to the master, had been taken out of an Ame- 
rican brig, in the vicinity of Sandy Hook, by a British fri- 
gate supposed to be the Guerriere. 

On the 10th of the month, the commodore set sail from 
Annapolis. On the 16th, about noon, and when he was 
about six leagues from land, a sail was discovered to the 
eastward, standing towards the President. The commodore 
made her out to be a man-of-war, and not having heard of 
any other vessel of war than the Guerriere being on the 



PRESIDENT AND LITTLE BELT. 117 

coast, he concluded that the sail in sight was that frigate. 
He resolved to speak to her, considering it his duty to know 
the names and characters of all foreign vessels hovering on 
the coast. He also hoped that, if she proved to be the 
Guerriere, he might prevail upon her commander to release 
the impressed young man. At forty-five minutes past one, 
the ensign and pendant of the President were hoisted. 
The signals of the strange sail not being answered, she 
wore and stood to the southward. At half-past three, P.M., 
the commodore perceived his ship to be gaining upon the 
chase. The wind beginning gradually to decrease, he could 
not come up with her time enough before dark to discover 
her actual force, which the position she kept during the 
chase was calculated to conceal ; nor could he discover to 
what nation she belonged, as she studiously declined show- 
ing her colours. At fifteen or twenty minutes past seven, 
P. M., the chase took in her studding-sails ; and soon after 
hauled up her courses. She then hauled by the wind on 
the starboard-tack ; and, at the same time, hoisted an en- 
sign or flag at her mizzen-peak. It was, however, too dark 
to discover what nation it represented. Her broadside was 
now, for the first time, presented to view. Though her ap- 
pearance indicated a frigate, darkness prevented her actual 
force being ascertained. 

At fifteen minutes past eight, P. M., the President being 
about a mile and a half from the chase, the commodore di- 
rected the acting captain, Ludlow, to take a position to 
windward of her, and on the same tack, within short speak- 
ing distance. This, however, the commander of the chase, 
from his manoeuvres, appeared to be anxious to prevent ; for 
he wore and hauled by the wind on diflferent tacks four 
times, before the President arrived at her intended posi- 
tion. 

At twenty minutes past eight, the President being a little 
forward of the weather-beam of the chase, and distant be- 
tween seventy and a hundred yards from her, the commo- 
dore hailed ; " What ship is that ?" To this no answer was 



118 PRESIDENT AND LITTLE BELT. 

given ; but the question was repeated from on board the 
chase. After a short pause, the question was repeated by 
the commodore, and immediately a shot was fired into the 
President. Just as the commodore was about giving orders 
for a shot to be fired in return, one was actually fired from 
the second division of the President. This was returned 
from the other vessel by three guns in quick succession, and 
soon after, by the remainder of his broadside and musketry. 
The commodore then gave a general order to fire. The fire 
from the President having in a few minutes produced a par- 
tial silence of the guns of the other vessel, the commodore 
gave orders to cease firing, judging that she must be a ship 
of very inferior force to what he had supposed, or that some 
untoward accident had happened her. 

This order the commodore soon had reason to regret. 
The fire was renewed from the other vessel, and two of its 
32-pound shot cut off one of the fore-shrouds, and injured 
the fore-mast of the President. He therefore immediately 
ordered a recommencement of the fire. It continued for a 
few minutes, when the commodore perceiving his opponent's 
gaff and colours down, his main-topsail-yard upon the cap, 
and his fire silenced, again ordered the firing to cease, to 
prevent a further effusion of blood. It was, however, so 
dark, that he could not discern any other particular injury, 
or whether the vessel was in a state to do any more harm. 
After a short pause, perceiving his adversary was not dis- 
posed to renew the action, the commodore again hailed. 
He was informed she was a British ship ; but from the wind 
blowing fresh, he was unable to learn her name. 

The commodore having informed the commander of the 
British vessel of the name of his ship, gave orders to ware ; 
to run under the lee of the British ship ; to haul by the 
wind on the starboard-tack ; to heave-to under topsails, and 
repair the little damage that had been sustained in the rig- 
ging. 

The President continued lying-to all night, on different 
tacks, with lights displayed, in order that the British vessel 



PRESIDENT AND LITTLE BELT. 119 

might the better discern her position, and command any as- 
sistance she might require during the night. 

At daylight, she was discovered several miles to leev^rard. 
The commodore gave orders to bear up and run dow^n to 
her under easy sail. After hailing her, he sent a boat on 
board, w^ith Lieutenant Creighton, to learn the name of the 
ship and her commander, with instructions to ascertain the 
damage she had sustained, and to state how much, on his 
part, he regretted the necessity which led to so unhappy a 
result, and to offer every assistance in his power, in repair- 
ing the damages. Lieutenant Creighton returned with in- 
formation that the vessel was his Britannic majesty's ship 
Little Belt, Captain Bingham, of 18 guns. The British 
captain declined accepting any assistance. 

The Little Belt had nine men killed, and twenty-two 
wounded. No one was killed on board the President, and 
only a boy wounded. 

The account given by Captain Bingham differs very ma- 
terially from the above statement. He denies having fired 
the first gun ; asserts the action lasted three-quarters of an 
hour ; and even seems to imply that he had gained the ad- 
vantage in the contest. Commodore Rodgers' account, from 
which the one here given is taken, was confirmed by all his 
officers and crew, on their solemn oath, befoi-e a court of 
inquiry. The court also confirmed all the particulars of his 
statement, after a long and minute investigation. 

The irritation occasioned by this affair of the Little Belt, 
and that of the Chesapeake, served to increase the estrange- 
ment and hostility of the two countries, and to increase the 
probability of the war which was shortly to follow. The 
overbearing insolence of the British, and their haughty feel- 
ing of superiority in naval power, was destined to suffer a 
severe rebuke in the events of this war. Their pride was 
speedily to have a fall, which should teach them to respect 
the valour and discipline of our brave tars. 




Mr. Jefferson's Gun-Boat System. Com- 
mencement of the War of 1812. 

|H E conclusion of the Tripolitan war 
found the public mind with a bias un- 
favourable to the navy, and which long 
threatened its entire destruction. The 
distinguished services performed by 
Decatur, Somers, Trippe, and their 
companions, in gun-boats, had brought 
these vessels into favour. Mr. Jeffer- 
son, too, (who exercised a control over 
public opinion, never, we are per- 
suaded, surpassed in this country) 
with the sentiments of a philosopher 
and the feehngs of a philanthropist, had certainly conceived 
the idea, that by pursuing a just and pacific policy towards 
all nations, we might escape wars, which he believed origi- 

(120) 



GUN-BOATS. 121 

nated entirely from the ambition or cupidity of rival states. 
It was a part of his scheme of government, therefore, to 
adopt a policy not only truly pacific, but strictly defensive, 
and it was his favourite theory that a nation by retiring, 
when assailed, upon its own resources, and ceasing to hold 
intercourse with those who violated her rights, might obtain 
redress, by appealing, not to the fears, but the interests of 
the aggressor. It is not to be denied that these benevolent 
theories of our great statesman, though originating in the 
most philosophical spirit, have been proved, by our dear- 
bought experience, to be altogether visionary and imprac- 
ticable, at least in the present state of the world. The re- 
strictive system, as a means of coercion, once so popular, 
has now, we believe, no advocates in this country ; and the 
substitution of gun-boats for an efficient naval force (which 
grew out of, and was, indeed, a part of that system) has 
shared the same fate. The first gun-boats built in the 
United States were constructed under the act of 2d March, 
1805, which authorized the President to cause to be built a 
number not exceeding twenty-five, for the protection of the 
ports and harbours of the United States. It is not a little 
mortifying to reflect, that at the time of the adoption of the 
gun-boat system, several of the most distinguished naval 
commanders were consulted on the subject, and it was with 
their full concurrence that a system was adopted, which 
for a long time threatened, and in the end, very nearly ef- 
fected, the entire annihilation of the navy. From the time 
when the first batch of these useless vessels was constructed, 
up to the year 1811, the number was constantly increasing. 
Every new outrage on our commerce or seamen was met 
by building an additional number of gun-boats, until near 
two hundred of these miserable vessels encumbered our 
harbours. While this system was vigorously prosecuted, 
the navy was almost entirely neglected. Indeed, the ex- 
pense of building and maintaining the gun-boats, in a great 
measure, deprived the country of the means of providing 
for the navy, and it was a fatal error of our naval officers 
11 Q 



122 DISUSE OF THE GUN-BOATS. 

that they should ever have been considered as a part of this 
establishment. As a branch of the fortification system, and 
manned chiefly by artillerists, the gun-boats would have 
been comparatively harmless to the navy proper. The 
service itself, it has been forcibly remarked, by confining 
our officers and seamen to harbour duty, occasioned idle 
habits, subversive of all good discipline and subordina- 
tion, and utterly destructive of that generous ambition and 
spirit of emulation which insure professional pre-eminence. 
The first intimation of any change in the policy of the go- 
vernment, in relation to gun-boats, will be found in the act 
of 30th March, 1812, which, while it provides for putting 
the frigates into actual service, and appropriates two hun- 
dred thousand dollars per annum, for three years, for ship 
timber, gives authority " for laying up the gun-boats as soon 
as it shall be deemed compatible with the good of the pub- 
lic service," and from that time they seem to have been 
abandoned, by common consent, to their fate. They ra- 
pidly fell into decay, or were sold for the inglorious occupa- 
tion of wood-shallops, and in a few years ceased to exist, 
leaving no memorial but the wrecks which now encumber 
our harbours. 

In looking back to the period, when under a singular 
popular delusion, the gun-boats were considered as the ap- 
propriate defence for the coasts and harbours of the United 
States, — we are astonished that the obvious facts and cal- 
culations (of which we have a valuable summary from the 
pen of Mr. Goldsborough) demonstrating their utter inuti- 
lity, should have been so completely overlooked. Indeed, 
it is manifest (if we except an accidental encounter with an 
enemy in a calm) that the only situation in which gun-boats 
could be of the smallest use, would be when stationed on a 
shoal — in front of the point to be defended, and out of the 
reach of frigates and ships of the line. How many posi- 
tions of this description are to be found in the harbours of 
the United States, we will not undertake to say ; but we 
will assert, without fear of contradiction, that no situation 



OPPOSITIONTOANAVY. 123 

can be conceived, in which floating batteries would not, in 
all respects, be more efficient, and much cheaper. 

We are now arrived at the great era in the history of the 
navy, when the solid foundation was laid of a permanent 
establishment, projected on a scale commensurate with the 
power and resources of the country, — calculated to grow 
with their growth, and strengthen with their strength, — and 
destined, at no distant day, to afford security from foreign 
invasion, and protection to the American flag in every sea. 
Up to this period, all the efforts made in favour of the navy 
had resulted, as we have seen, in the hasty preparation of a 
few vessels of war, on the pressure of some great emergen- 
cy, to be laid aside the moment that pressure was removed. 
But now the question was finally submitted to the country, 
whether it was indeed the policy of the United States to 
create, build up, and sustain a naval establishment, adequate 
to the wants and resources of the country. The time at 
which this great question was submitted was peculiarly 
propitious, and the men by whom it was brought forward 
and sustained, were, from their known principles, distin- 
guished talents, and high character, eminently qualified to 
give it popularity. It is not to be denied that there had 
long existed a deep-rooted jealousy of a naval establish- 
ment. The advocates of economy in the national expendi- 
tures had, on this subject, united with those who entertained 
great distrust of all establishments of a military character ; 
and to these was added a large number among the most 
estimable of our fellow-citizens, who hardly seemed to con- 
sider any measure as national which had for its object the 
protection of commerce or the rights of their countrymen 
on the ocean. It was the common language of that day 
(as may be seen in the debates in Congress on Mr. Cheves' 
navy bill) that commerce was not entitled to protection, 
that to guard our merchants and our seamen by force of 
arms, from dangers to which it was said " they had volun- 
tarily exposed themselves," would cost more than our trade 
was worth, — that the resources of the country were alto- 



124 CONGRESS OF 1812. 

gether inadequate to these objects, and that " in creating a 
navy, we were only building ships for Great Britain." We 
repeat, however, that the crisis was a favourable one for 
refuting errors like these, and this advantage was seized 
upon and pressed with a zeal and power which carried the 
navy triumphantly through all difficulties, and gave it an 
opportunity, which alone was wanted, of demonstrating, by 
practical results, its eminent utility as a means both of pro- 
tection and offence. For this great event, the country is 
chiefly indebted to Mr. Cheves, to whom more justly than 
to any man now alive, belongs the proud title of " Father 
of the Navy." It is well known to the nation, that at the 
commencement of the session of Congress, commonly called 
the war session, (1811-1812) many of the ablest men in the 
United States, of both political parties, were drawn from 
their retirement, and forced into the public councils for the 
express purpose of relieving us, if possible, from the un- 
happy and degraded situation in which we were then placed ; 
and the House of Representatives presented a combination 
of various and powerful talent, such as had, perhaps, never 
before been brought into conflict in the councils of the na- 
tion. The great leaders of the republican party in Con- 
gress, were at length united in the determination to abandon 
the restrictive system, and to seek the redress of our wrongs 
by war, — while the opposition of that day, distrusting, as 
they alleged, the power and resources of the nation, to 
wage war successfully against Great Britain, and distrust- 
ing still more, perhaps, the men then in the administration 
of our public affairs, — seem to have acted on the principle, 
that the redress of all our grievances was only to be found 
in a change of rulers. It is not our present purpose to no- 
, tice the proceedings of the twelfth Congress, further than 
they have a direct and intimate bearing on the subject now 
under our consideration. Mr. Cheves was appointed Chair- 
man of the Committee of Naval Affairs, and at once entered 
upon the subject of a naval establishment, with the energy 
and judgment for which he was so eminently distinguished. 



CONDITION OF THE NAVY. 125 

Looking to the war which was then at hand, as well as to 
the permanent interests of the United States, this enlight- 
ened practical statesman resolved to submit to the repre- 
sentatives of the people and to the nation, the great ques- 
tion, whether it was our true policy to establish a navy, — a 
question which it was manifest, from the past history of the 
country, had never yet been decided. 

The Report of the Naval Committee of the twelfth Con- 
gress was the fruit of this determination. In the prelimi- 
nary inquiries which led to that report, many of the most 
experienced and intelligent officers of tlie navy were exa- 
mined — the naval establishments of other countries were 
carefully looked into — our necessities and resources were 
accurately weighed, and the deliberate opinion expressed 
by the committee that in every view of the subject, it was 
the true policy of the United States to build up a naval 
establishment, as the cheapest, the safest, and the best pro- 
tection to their sea-coast and to their commerce, and that 
such an establishment was inseparably connected with the 
future prosperity, safety and glory of the country.* 

In the bill which accompanied this report, no authority 
was given to build ships of the line. It will be found, on 
examining Mr. Cheves' speech, however, in support of the 
system recommended by the committee, that the force which 
it was contemplated to create, and of which the frigates 
authorized by this bill, were only a part, consisted of twelve 
ships of the line, and twenty frigates, besides floating bat- 
teries, and other vessels of an inferior class. 

In examining the situation of the navy at this period, 
our attention is arrested by the very low condition into 
which it had been suffered to fall. From the official state- 
ments which accompany the report, it appears that we had 
but three frigates of the first class in the navy, — that but 
five vessels, of any description, were in commission, viz : 

The President, 44 guns 

United States, 44 

* Southern Review, 
11* 



126 



LIST OF THE NAVY. 



Constitution, 44 

Essex, 32, and 

Congress, 36, 

and that we owned, in the whole, but ten, seven of which 
were of the second class, and of inferior force, — all needing 
extensive repairs, and two of them, (the New-York and the 
Boston) were found, on examination, unworthy of repair, 
and condemned accordingly. Such was the state to which 
the navy had been reduced, and from which it has been 
raised up to its present flourishing condition, by persever- 
ance in the wise and liberal policy then adopted. 

War was declared by Congress against Great Britain on 
the 18th of June, 1812, and on the following day it was 
proclaimed by the President of the United States. 

The following is Mr. Clark's more particular statement of 
the naval force of the United States at this time.* 

FRIGATES. 

Rated. Mounting. Commanders. 

Constitution 44 56 Capt. Hull. 

United States 44 56 " Decatur. 

President 44 56 Com. Rodgers. 

Chesapeake 36 44 Capt. Evans. 



New- York 36 

Constellation 36 

Congress 36 

Boston 32 

Essex 32 

Adams 32 



44 
44 
44 



" Stewart. 
" Smith. 

" Porter 



CORVETTE. 



John Adams 26 



SHIPS OF WAR. 

Wasp 16 18 .. 

Hornet 16 18 .. 

BRIGS. 

Siren 16 

Argus 16 

Oneida 16 " 



(( 


Ludlow. 


it 


Jones. 


C( 


Lawrence. 


cc 


Carroll. 


(( 


Crane. 


(( 


Woolsey. 



* Clark's Naval History. 



PRESIDENT AND BELVIDERE. 127 

SCHOONERS. 

Vixen 12 Lieut, Gadsden. 

Nautilus 12 " Sinclair. 

Enterprise 12 " Blakely. 

Viper 12 " Bainbridge. 

BOMB-KETCHES. 

Vengeance, ^Etna, 

Spitfire, Vesuvius. 

GUN-BOATS. 

170 gun-boats. 

The number of registered seamen in the United States, 
according to the report of the Secretary of State, amounted, 
at that time, to 100,757. 

The British navy, at the time of which we speak, con- 
sisted of about 1000 vessels, of which 283 were of the line. 



A few days after the declaration of war. Commodore 
Rodgers sailed from New- York in the President, accompa- 
nied by the United States, Congress, Hornet, and Argus. 
His principal object was to intercept the Jamaica fleet of 
merchantmen. He shaped his course south-eastwardly, in 
expectation of falling in with some vessel that might give 
him the necessary information respecting this fleet. The 
following night he met with an American brig, from which 
he obtained the intelligence he desired. The squadron im- 
mediately crowded all sail in pursuit ; but the next morn- 
ing was diverted from its course by the appearance of the 
British frigate Belvidere, to which chase was immediately 
given. The superior sailing of the President enabled her 
to get within gun-shot of the Belvidere, between 4 and 3 
P. M. But the breeze then moderated so much as to leave 
very faint hopes of getting alongside. The commodore, at 
this time, perceiving that the Belvidere was training hei 
guns to bear on the President, gave orders to fire at her 
spars and rigging, in order, by crippling her, to enable him 
to come up with her. 

The firing continued about two hours. The President 



128 PURSUIT OF A BRITISH FLEET. 

gave the Belvidere two or three broadsides, and kept up a 
well-directed fire from her chase-guns, which, though it cut 
the sails and rigging of the Belvidere, did not destroy any 
of her spars ; some of them, however, were considerably 
injured. A running fire was kept up from the four stern- 
chasers of the Belvidere, which continued her course under 
a press of sail. In vain was all sail crowded in pursuit. 
The Belvidere now threw overboard every thing that could 
possibly be spared, started 14 tons of water, cut away her 
anchors, and stove and threw overboard her boats. The 
Belvidere had 7 men killed and wounded — the President 
had 22 killed and wounded, sixteen of them by the bursting 
of a gun. Among the wounded was Commodore Rodgers, 
who had his leg fractured. 

About midnight the chase was discontinued. The squad- 
ron then resumed its course in pursuit of the Jamaica fleet ; 
but received no further intelligence of it until the 29th of 
June; when, on the western banks of Newfoundland, an 
American schooner was spoken, the master of which gave 
information that he had passed the fleet two days before. 
On the 1st of July, a little to the eastward of Newfound- 
land bank, the squadron fell in with quantities of cocoa-nut 
shells, orange-peels, &c., which indicated that the fleet was 
not far distant. The pursuit was now continued with great 
spirit, though frequent interruptions were occasioned by 
vessels it was necessary to pursue. No more intelligence 
was obtained until the 9th of July, when a private-armed 
British brig was captured. She had seen the fleet the pre- 
ceding evening, and had counted eighty-five sail. The con- 
voy consisted of a two-decker, a frigate, a sloop of war, and 
a brig. 

This was the last intelligence the commodore received of 
the fleet. He continued the pursuit until the 13th of July, 
He was then only within 18 or 20 hours' sail of the British 
channel. The commodore now directed the squadron to 
steer for Madeira. It passed close by that island, on the 
21st of July : thence near the Azores ; returned by the 



CAPTURE OF THE ALERT. 129 

banks of Newfoundland ; and entered the port of Boston 
after a cruise of upwards of two months. During the 
cruise, seven merchant vessels were captured, and one Ame- 
rican recaptured. 

Though this cruise was not attended with any success 
of a brilliant nature, yet it was not unproductive of consi- 
derable advantage. By the American squadron being thus 
united, and cruising for such a length of time, the attention 
of the British was drawn from the coast and harbours of 
the United States, while they went in quest of it. Thus 
an almost incalculable amount of American property, that 
would otherwise have been captured, was brought safe into 
port. 

At the time of the declaration of war against England, 
the Essex was undergoing repairs at New- York, and the 
celerity with which she was fitted for sea reflected great 
credit on her commander, Captain David Porter. On the 
3d of July, 1812, he sailed from Sandy Hook on a cruise, 
which was not marked by any incident of consequence, ex- 
cepting the capture of the British sloop of war Alert, Cap- 
tain Langharne. Either undervaluing the untried prowess 
of our tars, or mistaking the force of the Essex, she ran 
down on her weather-quarter, gave three cheers and com- 
menced an action. In a few minutes she struck her colours, 
being cut to pieces, with three men w^ounded, and seven 
feet water in her hold. To relieve himself from the great 
number of prisoners, taken in this and former prizes. Cap- 
tain Porter made a cartel of the Alert, with orders to pro- 
ceed to St. Johns, Newfoundland, and thence to New- York. 
She arrived safe, being the first ship of war taken from the 
enemy, and her flag the first British flag sent to the seat of 
government during the war.* 

It was at this early period of the war that Captain Isaac 
Hull became an object of public attention, by two brilliant 
exploits ; the one exhibiting an instance of admirable skill 
as a seaman, and the other of his gallantry as an officer. 

* Analectic Magazine. 

R 



130 CHASE OF THE CONSTITUTION. 

Leaving Chesapeake Bay on the 12th of July, in the 
Constitution, of 44 guns, he, on the 17th, fell close in with 
a British squadron, consisting of one ship of the line, four 
frigates, a brig, and a schooner, the nearest frigate within 
gun-shot. It was a dead calm, and the only headway to be 
made was by towing, and carrying out anchors ahead, so 
as to pull on them. The enemy attached all his boats to 
two frigates, and by so doing gained on the Constitution, so 
as to bring some of his bow-guns to bear on her. In this 
situation they continued all day, the Constitution occasion- 
ally firing her stern-chasers ; and it was not until the next 
morning that a light breeze enabled her to escape from an 
enemy of so much superior force, as to render a contest des- 
perate. The whole chase lasted sixty hours, and during all 
that time the gallant crew remained at their stations with- 
out a murmur. Nothing, we think, can evince a more de- 
cided superiority of activity and skill on the part of the 
Americans, than this extraordinary escape from two frigates 
towed by the boats of a squadron of seven vessels. It is 
related, on good authority, that the enemy himself expressed 
his admiration of the skill with which Captain Hull ma- 
noeuvred his vessel and effected his escape. 

The public notice taken of the affair, and the praises be- 
stowed on Captain Hull, induced him, on arriving at Bos- 
ton, to insert the following card in the books of the Ex- 
change Coffee-House : 

" Captain Hull, finding that his friends in Boston are cor- 
rectly informed of his situation, when chased by the British 
squadron off New-York, and that they are good enough to 
give him more credit for having escaped it than he ought to 
claim, takes this opportunity of requesting them to transfer 
their good wishes to Lieutenant Morris, and the other brave 
officers and crew, under his command, for their very great 
exertions and prompt attention to his orders while the ene- 
my were in chase. Captain Hull has great pleasure in say- 
ing, that notwithstanding the length of the chase, and the 
officers and crew being deprived of sleep, and allowed but 



CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. 131 

little refreshment during the time, not a murmur was heard 
to escape them." 

It was naturally to be expected that a man, who had the 
honest pride to decline monopolizing that praise, which he 
was conscious ought to be shared with others, would, when 
opportunity oflered, distinguish himself in the most honour- 
able manner. Those who are themselves conscious of desert, 
are the last to claim that praise which belongs to others ; 
and those who feel a capacity to acquire reputation, are 
ever the most liberal in according it to others. It is only 
little, stinted minds that are anxious to claim that glory, 
which they only can gain by defrauding their associates ; 
liberal hearts are not afraid even to resign what they can 
so easily acquire. 

Accordingly, we find Captain Hull, on the nineteenth of 
the ensuing August, with the same vessel, the same officers, 
and the same crew, falling in with a large frigate, which 
struck to him after a close action of thirty minutes. She 
proved to be his majesty's ship the Guerriere, rated at 88 
guns, and carrying fifty ; commanded by Captain J. R. Da- 
cres, who some time before had politely endorsed on the 
register of a merchant ship, an invitation to Captain Hull 
to give him a meeting of this kind. 

The following is Captain Hull's official account of the 
action : 

United States' frigate Constitution, off Boston Light, 

August 30, 1812- 

Sir — I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th 
instant, at 2, P. M., being in latitude 41° 41', and longitude 
55° 48', with the Constitution under my command, a sail 
was discovered from the mast-head, bearing E. by S. or E. 
S. E., but at such a distance we could not tell what she 
was. All sail was instantly made in chase, and soon found 
we came up with her. At 3, P. M., could plainly see that 
she was a ship on the starboard-tack under easy sail, close 
on a wind — at half-past 3, P. M., made her out to be a fri- 
gate — continued the chase until we were within about three 



132 CAPTAIN HULL'S LETTER. 

miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses 
hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time 
the chase had backed her main-top-sail, waiting for us to 
come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for 
action, I bore down with an intention to bring him to close 
action immediately; but, on our coming within gun-shot, 
she gave us a broadside, and filled away and wore, giving 
us a broadside on the other tack, but without effect, her 
shot falling short. She continued waring and manoeuvring 
for about three-quarters of an hour, to get a raking position 
— but finding she could not, she bore up and run under her 
top-sails and jib, with the wind on the quarter. I immedi- 
ately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and at five 
minutes before 6, P. M., being alongside within half pistol- 
shot, we commenced a heavy fire from all our guns, double- 
shotted with round and grape, and so well-directed were 
they, and so warmly kept up, that in 16 minutes her mizzen- 
mast went by the board, and his main-yard in the slings, 
and the hull, rigging, and sails, very much torn to pieces. 
The fire was kept up with equal warmth for 15 minutes 
longer, when his main-mast and fore-mast went, taking with 
them every spar, excepting the bowsprit ; on seeing this we 
ceased firing; so that in thirty minutes after we got fairly 
alongside the enemy, she surrendered, and had not a spar 
standing, and her hull, below and above water, so shattered, 
that a few more broadsides must have carried her down. 

After informing that so fine a ship as the Guerriere, com- 
manded by an able and experienced officer, had been totally 
dismasted and otherwise cut to pieces, so as to make her 
not worth towing into port, in the short space of 30 minutes, 
you can have no doubt of the gallantry and good conduct 
of the officers and ship's company I have the honour to 
command. It only remains, therefore, for me to assure you, 
that they all fought with great bravery; and it gives me 
great pleasure to say, that from the smallest boy in the ship 
to the oldest seamen, not a look of fear was seen. They all 



mftm 




UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 135 

went into action giving three cheers, and requesting to be 
laid close alongside the enemy. 

Inclosed I have the honour to send you a list of the killed 
and wounded on board the Constitution, and a report of the 
damages she sustained — also a list of killed and wounded 
on board the enemy, with his quarter-bill, &c. I have the 
honour to be, with very great respect, sir, your obedient 
servant, ISAAC HULL. 

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, ^c, SfC. 

Here follows the return of killed and wounded in both 
ships. In the Constitution, seven killed and seven wounded ; 
in the Guerriere, fifteen killed ; sixty-two wounded, includ- 
ing the captain and several officers ; twenty -four missing. 

The news of this victory was received in the United 
States with the greatest joy and exultation. All parties 
united in celebrating it, and the citizens and public autho- 
rities vied with each other in bestowing marks of approba- 
tion upon Captain Hull and his gallant officers and crew. 

The next of the brilliant actions of this war which we 
have to record, is that of Commodore Decatur in the frigate 
United States. 

On the 25th October, 1812, in lat. 29 N., long. 29 30 W., 
he fell in with his Britannic Majesty's ship Macedonian, 
mounting 49 carriage guns. This was one of the finest fri- 
gates in the British navy, and commanded by Captain John 
S. Carden, one of the ablest officers. She was in prime 
order, two years old, and but four months out of dock. 
The enemy being to windward, had the advantage of choos- 
ing his own distance ; and, supposing the United States to 
be the Essex, (which only mounted carronades), kept at first 
at long shot, and did not at any moment come within the 
complete effect of the musketry and grape. After the fri- 
gates had come to close action the battle was terminated in 
a very short period, by the enemy's surrender. The whole 
engagement lasted for an hour and a half, being prolonged 
by the distance at which the early part of it was fought, 
and by a heavy swell of the sea. The superior gunnery of 



136 CAPTAIN GARDEN'S ACCOUNT. 

the Americans was apparent in this, as in all our other ac- 
tions. The Macedonian lost her mizzen-mast, fore and 
main-top-masts, and main-yard, and was much cut up in the 
hull. Her loss was thirty-six killed, and sixty-eight wound- 
ed. The damage of the United States was comparatively 
trivial, four killed and seven wounded ; and she suffered so 
little in her hull and rigging, that she might have continued 
her cruise, had not Commodore T)ecatur thought it import- 
ant to convoy his prize into port. His reception of Captain 
Carden, on board of the United States, was truly charac- 
teristic. On presenting his sword, Decatur observed that 
he could not think of taking the sword of an officer who 
had defended his ship so gallantly, but he should be happy 
to take him by the hand. 

We are sorry to observe that Captain Carden has not 
been ingenuous in his account of this affair. He mentions 
that, " after an hour's action the enemy backed and came to 
the wind, and / was then enabled to bring her to close action," 
Now, on the contrary, we have it from the venj best author- 
ity, that the United States was close hauled to the wind, 
and her commander was extremely anxious to come to close 
quarters. There are other parts of Captain Carden's offi- 
cial letter that are exceptionable, but we shall pass them 
over without comment. It is natural for a proud and gal- 
lant mind to writhe under humiliation, and to endeavour to 
palliate the disgrace of defeat ; but a truly magnanimous 
spirit w^ould scorn to do it at the expense of a brave and 
generous foe. Captain Carden must know that he had it in 
his power to close with the United States whenever he 
pleased, and that there was no movement on the part of 
Commodore Decatur to prevent it. We again repeat, that 
it is with regret we notice any instance of disingenuousness 
in an officer whose general character we admire, and whose 
deportment at all times to our countrymen has been such as 
to entitle him to their highest good will. 

It is not one of the least circumstances of Commodore 
Decatur's good fortune, or rather good management, that he 




'137) 



WASP AND FROLIC. 139 

convoyed his prize, in her shattered condition, across a vast 
extent of ocean, swarming with foes, and conducted her tri- 
umphantly into port ; thus placing immediately before the 
eyes of his countrymen a noble trophy of his own skill, and 
of national prowess. 

The next victory in the order of time was that of Cap- 
tain Jacob Jones, in the Wasp, over the British sloop of war 
Frolic. 

In 1811, Captain Jones was transferred by the Secretary 
of the Navy to the command of the sloop of war the Wasp, 
mounting eighteen 24-pound carronades, and was despatch- 
ed, in the spring of 1812, with communications from our 
government to its functionaries at the courts of St. Cloud 
and St. James. Before he returned from this voyage, war 
had been declared by the United States against Great Brit- 
ain. Captain Jones refitted his ship with all possible de- 
spatch, and repaired to sea on a cruise, in which he met 
with no other luck than the capture of an inconsiderable 
prize. — He again put to sea on the 13th of October, and, on 
the 18th of the month, after a long and heavy gale, he fell 
in with a number of strongly-armed merchantmen under 
convoy of his Britannic Majesty's sloop of war the Frolic, 
Captain Whinyates. 

There was a heavy swell in the sea, and the weather was 
boisterous. The topgallant-yards of the Wasp were taken 
down, her topsails were close reefed, and she was prepared 
for action. About 11 o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish 
colours, and the Wasp immediately displayed the American 
ensign and pendant. At thirty-two minutes past 11, the 
Wasp came down to windward on her larboard side, within 
about sixty yards, and hailed. The enemy hauled down 
the Spanish colours, hoisted the British ensign, and opened 
a fire of cannon and musketry. This the Wasp instantly 
returned ; and coming nearer to the enemy, the action be- 
came close, and without intermission. In four or five mi- 
nutes the main-top-mast of the Wasp was shot away, and, 
falling down with the main-topsail-yard across the larboard 



140 WASP AND FROLIC. 

fore and fore-topsail-braces, rendered her head-yards unma- 
nageable during the rest of the action. In two or three 
minutes more her gaft and mizzen-topgallant-sail were shot 
away. Still she continued a close and constant fire. The 
sea was so rough that the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were 
frequently in the water. The Americans, therefore, fired 
as the ship's side was going down, so that their shot went 
either on the enemy's deck or below it, while the English 
fired as the vessel rose, and thus her balls chiefly touched 
the rigging or were thrown away. The Wasp now shot 
ahead of the Frolic, raked her, and then resumed her posi- 
tion on her larboard-bow. Her fire was now obviously 
attended with such success, and that of the Frolic so slack- 
ened, that Captain Jones did not wish to board her, lest the 
roughness of the sea might endanger both vessels ; but in 
the course of a few minutes more every brace of the Wasp 
was shot away, and her rigging so much torn to pieces, that 
he was afraid that his masts, being unsupported, would go 
by the board, and the Frolic be able to escape. He thought, 
therefore, the best chance of securing her was to board, and 
decide the contest at once. With this view he wore ship, 
and running down upon the enemy, the vessels struck each 
other, the Wasp's side rubbing along the Frolic's bow, so 
that her jib-boom came in between the main and mizzen- 
rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of Captain 
Jones and the first lieutenant, Mr. Biddle, who were at that 
moment standing together near the capstan. The Frolic 
lay so fair for raking, that they decided not to board until 
they had given a closing broadside. Whilst they were 
loading for this, so near were the two vessels, that the ram- 
mers of the Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's sides, 
and two of her guns went through the bow-ports of the 
Frolic, and swept the whole length of her deck. At this 
moment. Jack Lang, a seaman of the Wasp, a gallant fel- 
low who had been once impressed by a British man-of-war, 
jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was springing on 
board the Frolic : Captain Jones, wishing to fire again be- 




(14U 



WASP AND FROLIC. 143 

fore boarding, called him down, but his impetuosity could 
not be restrained, and he was already on the bowsprit of 
the Frolic ; when, seeing the ardour and enthusiasm of the 
Wasp's crew. Lieutenant Biddle mounted on the hammock- 
cloth to board. At this signal the crew followed, but Lieu- 
tenant Biddle's feet got entangled in the rigging of the ene- 
my's bowsprit, and Midshipman Baker, in his ardour to get 
on board, laying hold of his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's 
deck. He sprang up, and as the next swell of the sea 
brought the Frolic nearer, he got on her bowsprit, where 
Lang and another seaman were already. He passed them 
on the forecastle, and was surprised at seeing not a single 
man alive on the Frolic's deck, except the seaman at the 
wheel, and three officers. The deck was slippery with 
blood, and strewed with the bodies of the dead. As he 
went forward, the captain of the Frolic, with two other 
officers, who were standing on the quarter-deck, threw down 
their swords, and made an inclination of their bodies, de- 
noting that they had surrendered. At this moment the 
colours were still flying, as, probably, none of the seamen 
of the Frolic would dare to go into the rigging for fear of 
the musketry of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle, therefore, 
jumped into the rigging himself and hauled down the Brit- 
ish ensign, and possession was taken of the Frolic in forty- 
three minutes after the first fire. She was in a shocking 
condition; the berth-deck, particularly, was crowded with 
dead, and wounded, and dying; there being but a small 
proportion of the Frolic's crew who had escaped. Captain 
Jones instantly sent on board his surgeon's- mate, and all 
the blankets of the Frolic were brought from her slop-room 
for the comfort of the wounded. To increase this confu- 
sion, both the Frolic's masts soon fell, covering the dead and 
every thing on deck, and she lay a complete wreck. 

It now appeared that the Frolic mounted sixteen thirty- 
two-pound carronades, four twelve-pounders on the main- 
deck, and two twelve-pound carronades. She was, there- 
fore, superior to the Wasp, by exactly four twelve-pounders. 



144 WASP AND FROLIC. 

The number of men on board, as stated by the officers of 
the Frolic, was one hundred and ten — the number of sea- 
men on board the Wasp was one hundred and two ; but it 
could not be ascertained, whether in this one hundred and 
ten, were included the marines and officers ; for the Wasp 
had besides her one hundred and two men, officers and ma- 
rines, making the whole crew about one hundred and thirty- 
five. What is, however, decisive, as to their comparative 
force is, that the officers of the Frolic acknowledged that 
they had as many men as they knew what to do with, and 
in fact the Wasp could have spared fifteen men. There 
was, therefore, on the most favourable view, at least an 
equality of men, and an inequality of four guns. The dis- 
parity of loss was much greater. The exact number of 
killed and wounded on board the Frolic could not be pre- 
cisely determined ; but from the observations of our officers, 
and the declarations of those of the Frolic, the number 
could not be less than about thirty killed, including two 
officers, and of the wounded between forty and fifty ; the 
captain and second lieutenant being of the number. The 
Wasp had five men killed and five slightly wounded. 

All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, bury- 
ing the dead, and taking care of the wounded, when Cap- 
tain Jones sent orders to Lieutenant Biddle to proceed to 
Charleston, or any southern port of the United States ; and, 
as there was a suspicious sail to windward, the Wasp would 
continue her cruise. The ships then parted. The suspi- 
cious sail was now coming down very fast. At first it was 
supposed that she Was one of the convoy, who had all fled 
during the engagement, and who now came for the purpose 
of attacking the prize. The guns of the Frolic were there- 
fore loaded, and the ship cleared for action ; but the enemy, 
as she advanced, proved to be a seventy-four — the Poictiers, 
Captain Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frolic ; passed 
her ; overtook the Wasp, the disabled state of whose rig- 
ging prevented her from escaping ; and then returned to the 



WASP AND FROLIC. 145 

Frolic, which could of course make no resistance. The Wasp 
and Frolic were carried into Bermuda. 

On the return of Captain Jones to the United States, he 
was everywhere received with the utmost demonstrations 
of gratitude and admiration. Brilliant entertainments were 
given him in the cities through which he passed. The 
legislature of his native state appointed a committee to 
wait on him with their thanks, and to express the " pride 
and pleasure" they felt in recognising him as a native of 
their state : in the same resolution they voted him an ele- 
gant piece of plate, with appropriate engravings. The 
congress of the United States, on motion of Mr. J. A. Bay- 
ard, of Delaware, appropriated 25,000 dollars, as a compen- 
sation to Captain Jones and his crew, for the loss they sus- 
tained by the recapture of the Frolic. They also ordered 
a gold medal to be presented to the captain, and a silver 
one to each of his officers. 

Various other marks of honour were paid by the legisla- 
tures, and the citizens of different states, which it would be 
superfluous to enumerate; but the most substantial testi- 
mony of approbation which he received, was the appoint- 
ment to the command of the frigate Macedonian, just cap- 
tured from the British. 

On the arrival of the Constitution in Boston, after her 
glorious capture of the Guerriere, Captain Bainbridge, then 
in command at the navy-yard, Charlestown, and learning 
that Captain Hull had applied for leave of absence in order 
to attend to some private concerns which imperatively de- 
manded his attention, desired to be transferred to that fri- 
gate. The Secretary of the Navy readily gave him the 
appointment, and placed, besides, a small squadron under 
his command, consisting of the frigate Essex, Commodore 
David Porter, and the sloop of war Hornet, under the com- 
mand of Captain James Lawrence. His broad pennant 
was hoisted on board the Constitution, on the fifteenth of 
September, 1812.* 

* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. 
13 T 



146 BONNE CITOYENNE. 

^ Commodore Bainbridge transmitted orders to Captain 
Porter, whose vessel was then lying in the Delaware, for 
his government during the cruise. He directed that the 
Essex siiould sail direct for the Cape de Verd islands, stop 
at Port Praya, in the island of St. Jago, thence to the island 
of Fernando Noronha, thence, in case no junction with the 
squadron should take place, to the island of St. Catharine, 
in February, and afterwai'ds to cruise south of St. Helena. 
In the event of not meeting the squadron, he was to act ac- 
cording to his own discretion, as to the best means of annoy- 
ing the enemy's commerce. Under these orders, Captain 
Porter sailed from the Delaware on the 27th of October, 
1812. 

On the 26th of the same month, the Constitution and 
Hornet sailed from Boston on their destined cruise. In De- 
cember, they reached the rendezvous of Fernando de No- 
ronha, which being a dependency of Portugal, in the inter- 
est of Great Britain, they passed as British ships, and not 
meeting Captain Porter, letters were left, according to pre- 
vious arrangement, as from one of the British commanders 
to Sir James Yeo. 

The Constitution and Hornet arrived off St. Salvador on 
the 13th of December, 1812. While cruising off the Bra- 
zils they fell in with the Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of 
war, having on board a large amount of specie, and chased 
her into St. Salvador. Notwithstanding that she was a 
larger vessel, and of a greater force in guns and men than 
the Hornet, yet Captain Lawrence sent a challenge to her 
commander. Captain Green, pledging his honour that nei- 
ther the Constitution nor any other American vessel should 
interfere. Commodore Bainbridge made a similar pledge 
on his own part ; but the British commander declined the 
combat, alleging that though perfectly satisfied that the 
event of such a rencontre would be favourable to his ship ; 
" yet he was equally convinced that Commodore Bainbridge 
could not swerve so much from the paramount duty he owed 
his country as to become an inactive spectator, and see a 



CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 147 

ship belonging to the very squadron under his orders, fall 
into the hands of the enemy." 

To make him easy on this point, Commodore Bainbridge 
left the Hornet four days together off the harbour in which 
the Bonne Citoyenne laid, and from which she could disco- 
ver that he was not within forty miles of it. He after- 
wards went into the harbour and remained there three days, 
where he might at any time have been detained twenty- 
four hours, at the request of Captain Green, if disposed to 
combat the Hornet. At length the Constitution went off 
altogether, leaving Lawrence to blockade the Bonne Citoy- 
enne, which he did for nearly a month, Captain Green not 
thinking proper to risk an encounter. It is possible that 
having an important public trust in charge, and sailing un- 
der particular orders, he did not think himself authorized 
to depart from the purpose of his voyage, and risk his ves- 
sel in a contest for mere individual reputation. But if such 
were his reasons, he should have stated them when he re- 
fused to accept the challenge. 

Three days after the Constitution had separated from the 
Hornet, off St. Salvador, and while running down the coast 
of Brazil, she fell in with and captured the British frigate 
Java. The particulars of this brilliant action are lucidly 
detailed in the subjoined official report of Commodore Bain- 
bridge to the Secretary of the Navy.* 

" I have the honour to inform you, that on the 29th of 
December, at two o'clock, P. M., in south latitude 13° 6', 
west longitude 38°, and about ten leagues distant from the 
coast of Brazil, I fell in with, and captured, his Britannic 
Majesty's frigate Java, of forty-nine guns, and upwards of 
four hundred men, commanded by Captain Lambert, a very 
distinguished officer. The action lasted one hour and fifty- 
five minutes, in which time the enemy was completely dis- 
mantled, not having a spar of any kind standing. 

The loss on board the Constitution was 9 killed and 25 
wounded, as per enclosed list. The enemy had 60 killed 
* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. 



148 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 

and 101 wounded, (among the latter, Captain Lambert, mor- 
tally,) but, by the enclosed letter, written on board this ship, 
by one of the officers of the Java, and accidentally found, 
it is evident that the enemy's wounded must have been 
much greater than as above stated, and who must have died 
of their wounds, previously to their being removed. The 
letter states, 60 killed, and 170 wounded. 

For further details of the action, I beg leave to refer you 
to the enclosed extract from my journal : the Java had, in 
addition to her own crew, upwards of one hundred super- 
numerary officers and seamen, to join the British ships of 
war in the East Indies. She had also on board Lieutenant- 
General Hislop, appointed to the command of Bombay ; 
Major Walker, and Captain Wood, of his staff, and Captain 
Marshall, master and commander in the British navy, going 
to the East Indies, to take command of a sloop of war there. 

Should I attempt to do justice, by representation, to 
the brave and good conduct of my officers and crew, I 
should fail in the attempt ; therefore, suffice it to say, that 
the whole of their conduct was such as to meet my highest 
encomiums. I beg leave to recommend the officers, parti- 
cularly, to the notice of the government, as, also, the unfor- 
tunate seamen who were wounded, and the families of those 
brave men who fell in action. 

The great distance from our own coast, and the perfect 
wreck we made of the enemy's frigate, forbade every idea 
of attempting to take her to the United States. I had, 
therefore, no alternative but burning her, which I did on 
the 31st, after receiving all the prisoners and their baggage, 
which was very hard work, only having two boats left out 
of eight, and not one left on board the Java. 

On blowing up the frigate Java, I proceeded to St. Salva- 
dor, where I landed all the prisoners on their parole, to 
return to England, and there remain until regularly ex- 
changed, and not to serve in their professional capacities in 
any place, or in any manner, whatsoever, against the United 
States of America, until their exchange shall be effected." 



CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 149 

Extracts from Commodore Bainbridge's Journal. 

" Tuesday, December 29th, 1812, at nine A. M., discovered 
two strange sails on the weather-bow. At ten, discovered 
the strange sails to be ships ; one of them stood in for the 
land — the other stood off shore, in a direction towards us. 
At forty-five minutes past ten, A. M., we tacked ship to the 
northward and westward, and stood for the sail standing 
towards us. At eleven, A. M., tacked to the southward and 
eastward — hauled up the main-sail, and took in the royals. 
At thirty minutes past eleven, made the private signal for 
the day, which was not answered, and then set the main- 
sail and royals, to draw the strange sail off from the neutral 
coast, and separate her from the sail in company. 

Wednesday, the 30th of December, (nautical time,) lati- 
tude 13° 6' south, longitude 31° west, ten leagues from the 
coast of Brazil, commenced with clear weather and mode- 
rate breezes from the E. N. E. ; hoisted our ensign and pen- 
nant. At fifteen minutes past meridian, the ship hoisted 
her colours, an English ensign, having a signal flying at the 
main. At twenty-six minutes past one, P. M., being suffi- 
ciently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English 
frigate, took in the main-sail and royals, tacked ship, and 
stood for the enemy. 

At fifty minutes past one, P. M., the enemy bore down 
with an intention of raking us, which we avoided by war- 
ing. At two, P. M., the enemy being within half a mile 
of us, and to windward, and having hauled down his co- 
lours, except the union-jack, at the mizzen-mast head, in- 
duced me to give orders to the officer of the third division, 
to fire a gun ahead of the enemy, to make him show his 
colours, which being done, brought on a fire from us of the 
whole broadside, on which the enemy hoisted his colours, 
and immediately returned our fire. A general action, with 
round and grape, then commenced ; the enemy keeping at 
a much greater distance than I wished ; but could not bring 
him to a closer action. Considerable manoeuvres were 
made by both vessels to rake and avoid being raked. 
13- 



150 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 

The following minutes were taken during the battle : 
At ten minutes past two, P. M., commenced the action 
within good grape or canister distance, the enemy to wind- 
ward, but much further than I wished. At thirty minutes 
past two, our wheel was shot entirely away. At forty mi- 
nutes past two, determined to close with the enemy, not- 
withstanding his raking. Set the fore and main-sail, and 
luffed up close to him. At fifty minutes past two, the ene- 
my's jib-boom got foul of our mizzen-rigging. At three, 
the head of the enemy's bowsprit and jib-boom were shot 
away by us. At five minutes past three, shot away the 
enemy's fore-mast by the board. At fifteen minutes past 
three, shot away his main-top-mast, just above the cap. At 
forty minutes past three, shot away the gaft and spanker- 
boom. At fifty-five minutes past three, shot away his miz- 
zen-mast, nearly by the board. At five minutes past four, 
having silenced the fire of the enemy completely, and his 
colours in the main-rigging being down, we supposed he 
had struck ; we then hauled down courses and shot ahead, 
to repair our rigging, which was extremely cut, leaving the 
enemy a complete wreck : soon afterwards discovered that 
the enemy's flag was still flying. Hove-to, to repair some 
of our damage. At twenty minutes past four, wore ship 
and stood for the enemy. At twenty-five minutes past five, 
got very close to the enemy in a very effectual raking posi- 
tion, athwart his bows, and when about to fire, he most pru- 
dently struck his flag ; for had he suffered the broadside to 
have raked him, his additional loss must have been ex- 
tremely great, as he lay an unmanageable wreck upon the 
water. 

After the enemy had struck, wore ship and reefed the 
top-sails, then hoisted one of the only two remaining boats 
we had left out of eight, and sent Lieutenant Parker, first 
of the Constitution, to take possession of the enemy, which 
proved to be his Britannic Majesty's frigate Java, rated 38, 
but carried 49 guns, and manned with upwards of 400 men 




(1.-1) 



CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 153 

— commanded by Captain Lambert, a very distinguished 
officer, who was mortally wounded. 

The action continued, from the commencement to the end 
of the fire, one hour and fifty-five minutes. 

The force of the enemy, at the commencement of the ac- 
tion, was, no doubt, considerably greater than we had been 
able to ascertain. The officers were extremely cautious in 
discovering the number. By her quarter-bill, she had one 
man stationed at each gun more than we had. The Con- 
stitution was very much cut in her sails and rigging, and 
many of her spars injured. 

At seven, P. M., the boat returned with Lieutenant Chads, 
the first lieutenant of the enemy's frigate, and Lieutenant- 
General Hislop, governor of Bombay, Major Walker, and 
Captain Wood of his staff. Captain Lambert of the Java, 
was too dangerously wounded to be removed immediately. 

The cutter returned on board the prize for the prisoners, 
and brought Captain Marshall, master and commander in 
the British navy, who was a passenger on board, and seve- 
ral other naval officers destined for ships in the East Indies. 

The Java was an important ship, fitted out in the com- 
pletest manner, to convey Lieutenant-General Hislop and 
staff to Bombay, several naval officers, and a number of 
seamen for ships in the East Indies. 

She had also despatches for St. Helena, Cape of Good 
Hope, and every British establishment in the India and 
China seas. 

There was copper for a seventy-four, and two brigs, build- 
ing at Bombay, and a great many other valuables, but every 
thing was blown up in her, except the officers' baggage." 

In the early part of the action, Commodore Bainbridge 
was wounded by a musket-ball in the hip, and shortly after- 
ward by a piece of langrage in the thigh. Though these 
wounds were severe and extremely painful, yet so deeply 
interested was he in the important duties which devolved 
upon him after the action, that he would not be persuaded 
to leave the deck until 11 o'clock at night. The langrage 

u 



154 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 

was not extracted for many days after the wound had been 
inflicted. The constant irritation produced by the lodge- 
ment of this foreign substance in his muscles, gave rise to 
symptoms of tetanus, yet by the skill and unremitting atten- 
tions of the surgeon of the ship, Dr. Evans, he was happily 
restored to his country, and to the arms of his affectionate 
family. 

On the 29th, after the action, Lieutenant Alwyn, a young 
officer of great promise, died of his wounds. He had been 
in the previous action between the Constitution and the 
Guerriere, and for his gallantry and good conduct on that 
occasion, he was promoted to a lieutenancy. 

During this action, there were many instances among the 
seamen and marines of not only dashing bravery, but of a 
patriotic enthusiasm which deserves particular admiration. 
A remarkable example was in the case of John Cheever, a 
seaman from Marblehead, who, while lying on the deck in 
the agonies of death, by the side of a dead brother, who 
had been killed in the early part of the action, heard the 
word passed that the enemy has struck. This animating in- 
telligence gave a momentary reflux to his fast ebbing spirit, 
he raised himself on his left hand, pronounced three cheers 
with loud and joyous vehemence, and then fell back and 
expired with a smile of content and satisfaction playing 
upon his countenance.* 

After the capture of the Java, the Constitution arrived 
oflT St. Salvador, where she found her consort, the Hornet, 
maintaining a blockade of that port, but still unable to ob- 
tain a meeting with the Bonne Citoyenne. Commodore 
Bainbridge landed all his prisoners on parole, restoring to 
the British officers all their private property, including the 
valuable plate of General Hislop. The last named officer 
presented the Commodore a splendid gold-mounted sword, 
in acknowledgment of his liberal conduct towards himself 
and the other officers captured in the Java. The shattered 
and decayed state of the Constitution requiring her imme- 

* Harris's Life of Bainbridge. 



HORNET AND PEACOCK. 155 

diate return to port, he then set sail for the United States. 
On the 27th of February, 1813, he arrived at Boston, where 
he was received with every mark of distinction. A public 
dinner from the citizens of that place, a vote of thanks from 
the legislatures of Massachusetts and New- York, a gold 
medal from the Congress of the United States, and the free- 
dom of the city of New-York in a gold box, were among the 
honours which were consequent upon his splendid victory. 

We now return to Captain Lawrence, whom the commo- 
dore left cruising off' St. Salvador.* 

On the 24th of January, Captain Lawrence was obliged 
to shift his cruising ground, by the arrival of the Montagu 
74, which had sailed from Rio Janeiro for the express pur- 
pose of relieving the Bonne Citoyenne and a British packet 
of 12 guns, which likewise lay at St. Salvador. At length, 
on the morning of the 24th February, when cruising off 
Demarara, the Hornet fell in with the British brig Peacock, 
Captain Peake, a vessel of about equal force. The contest 
commenced within half pistol-shot, and so tremendous was 
the fire of the Americans, that in less than fifteen minutes 
the enemy surrendered, and made signal of distress, being 
in a sinking condition. Her main-mast shortly went by the 
board, and she was left such an absolute wreck, that, not- 
withstanding eveiy exertion was made to keep her afloat 
until the prisoners could be removed, she sunk with thirteen 
of her crew, and three brave American tars, who thus nobly 
perished in relieving a conquered foe. The slaughter on 
board of the Peacock was very severe ; among the slain 
was found the body of her commander, Captain Peake. 
He was twice wounded in the course of the action ; the last 
wound proved fatal. His body was wrapped in the flag of 
his vessel, and laid in the cabin to sink with her, a shroud 
and sepulchre worthy so brave a sailor. 

The following is Captain Lawrence's official account of 
the capture and destruction of the Peacock, written after 
his return to the United States : 



* Analectic Magrazine. 



156 CAPTAIN LAWRENCE'S LETTER. 

" United States' ship Hornet, Holmes' Hole, 

March 19, 1813. 

Sir — I have the honour to inform you of the arrival at 
this port of the United States' ship Hornet, under my com- 
mand, from a cruise of 145 days ; and to state to you, that 
after Commodore Bainbridge left the coast of Brazils, Janu- 
ary 6th, I continued off the harbour of St. Salvador, block- 
ading the Bonne Citoyenne, until the 24th, when the Mon- 
tagu 74 hove in sight and chased me into the harbour ; but 
night coming on, I wore and stood out to the southward. 
Knowing that she had left Rio Janeiro for the express pur- 
pose of relieving the Bonne Citoyenne and the packet (which 
I had also blockaded for 14 days, and obliged her to send 
her mail to Rio in a Portuguese smack), I judged it most 
prudent to shift my cruising ground, and hauled by the wind 
to the eastward, with the view of cruising off Pernambuco, 
and on the 4th February, captured the English brig Reso- 
lution, of 10 guns, from Rio Janeiro, bound to Maranham, 
with coffee, jerked-beef, flour, fustic, and butter, and about 
$23,000 in specie. As she sailed dull, and I could not spare 
hands to man her, I took out the money, and set her on fire. 
I then ran down the coast of Maranham, and cruised there 
a short time ; from thence ran off Surinam. After cruising 
off that coast from the 15th to the 22d of February, with- 
out meeting a vessel, I stood for Demarara, with an inten- 
tion, should I not be fortunate on that station, to run through 
the West Indies, on my way to the United States. But on 
the 24th, in the morning, I discovered a brig to leeward, to 
which I gave chase — ran into quarter less four, and not 
having a pilot was obliged to haul off — the fort at the en- 
trance of Demarara river at this time bearing S. W., distant 
two and a half leagues. Previous to giving up the chase, I 
discovered a vessel at anchor without the bar, with English 
colours flying, apparently a brig-of-war. In beating around 
Carobana bank, in order to get at her, at half-past 3, P. M., 
I discovered another sail on my weather-quarter, edging 
down for us. At 20 minutes past 4, she hoisted English 



CAPTAIN LAWRENCE'S LETTER. 157 

colours, at which time we discovered her to be a large man- 
of-war brig — beat to quarters, and cleared ship for action, 
and kept close to the wind, in order, if possible, to get the 
weather-gage. At 10 minutes past 5, finding I could wea- 
ther the enemy, I hoisted American colours, and tacked. 
At 25 minutes past 5, in passing each other exchanged 
broadsides within half pistol-shot. Observing the enemy in 
the act of waring, I bore up, received his starboard broad- 
side, ran him close on board on the starboard-quarter, and 
kept up such a heavy and well-directed fire, that in less 
than 15 minutes he surrendered (being literally cut to 
pieces), and hoisted an ensign, union down, from his fore- 
rigging, as a signal of distress. Shortly after her main- 
mast went by the board. Despatched Lieutenant Shubrick 
on board, who soon returned with her first lieutenant, who 
reported her to be his Britannic Majesty's late brig Peacock, 
commanded by Captain William Peake, who fell in the lat- 
ter part of the action — that a number of her crew were 
killed and wounded, and that she was sinking fast, having 
then six feet water in her hold. Despatched the boats im- 
mediately for the wounded, and brought both vessels to 
anchor. Such shot-holes as could be got at, were then 
plugged ; her guns thrown overboard, and every possible 
exertion used to keep her afloat until the prisoners could be 
removed, by pumping and bailing, but without effect, as she 
unfortunately sunk in five and a half fathoms water, carry- 
ing down 13 of her crew, and three of my brave fellows, 
viz., John Hart, Joseph Williams, and Hannibal Boyd. — 
Lieutenant Conner, Midshipman Cooper, and the remainder 
of my men employed in removing the prisoners, with diffi- 
culty saved themselves, by jumping into a boat that was 
lying on her booms, as she went down. 

Four men, of the thirteen mentioned, were so fortunate 
as to gain the fore-top, and were afterwards taken off by 
the boats. Previous to her going down, four of her men 
took to her stern boat, that had been much damaged during 
the action, who, I sincerely hope, reached the shore in 
14 



158 CAPTAIN LAWRENCE'S LETTER. 

safety ; but, from the heavy sea running at that time, the 
shattered state of the boat, and tlie difficulty of landing on 
the coast, I am fearful they were lost. I have not been able 
to ascertain from her officers the exact number killed. Cap- 
tain Peake and four men were found dead on board. The 
master, one midshipman, carpenter, and captain's clerk, and 
twenty-nine seamen were wounded ; most of them very 
severely, three of whom died of their wounds, after being 
removed, and nine drowned. Our loss was trifling in com- 
parison, John Place, killed, Samuel Coulsan, and John Dal- 
rymple, slightly wounded ; Geoi'ge Coffin and Lewis Todd, 
severely burnt by the explosion of a cartridge. Todd sur- 
vived only a few days. Our rigging and sails were much 
cut. One shot through the fore-mast : and the bowsprit 
slightly injured. Our hull received little or no damage. 
At the time I brought the Peacock to action, L'Espiegle 
(the brig mentioned as being at anchor) mounting sixteen 
two-and-thirty-pound carronades and two long nines, lay 
about six miles within shore of me, and could plainly see 
the whole of the action. Apprehensive that she would beat 
out to the assistance of her consort, such exertions were 
made by my officers and crew in repairing damages, &c., 
that by nine o'clock my boats were stowed away, a new set 
of sails bent, and the ship completely ready for action. At 
2, A. M., got under way, and stood by the wind to the north- 
ward and westward, under easy sail. 

On mustering the next morning, found we had two hun- 
dred and seventy-seven souls on board (including the crew 
of the American brig Hunter, of Portland, taken a few days 
before by the Peacock). As we had been on two-thirds 
allowance of provisions for some time, and had but 3400 
gallons of water on board, I reduced the allowance to three 
pints a man, and determined to make the best of my way 
to the United States. 

The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest ves- 
sels of her class in the British navy. I should judge her 
to be about the tonnage of the Hornet. Her beam was 



CAPTAIN LAWRENCE'S LETTER. 159 

greater by five inches ; but her extreme length not so great 
by four feet. She mounted sixteen twenty-four-pound car- 
ronades, two long nines, one twelve-pound carronade on her 
top-gallant fore-castle as a shifting gun, and one four or six- 
pounder, and two swivels mounted aft. I find by her quar- 
ter bills, that her crew consisted of one hundred and thirty- 
four men, four of whom were absent in a prize. 

The cool and determined conduct of my officers and crew 
during the action, and their almost unexampled exertions 
afterwards, entitle them to my warmest acknowledgments, 
and I beg leave most earnestly to recommend them to the 
notice of government. 

By the indisposition of Lieutenant Stewart, I was de- 
prived of the services of an excellent officer. Had he been 
able to stand the deck, I am confident his exertions would 
not have been surpassed by any one on board. I should be 
doing injustice to the merits of Lieutenant Shubrick, and 
acting-lieutenants Conner and Newton, were I not to recom- 
mend them particularly to your notice. Lieutenant Shu- 
brick was in the actions with the Guerriere and Java. Cap- 
tain Hull and Commodore Bainbridge can bear testimony 
to his coolness and good conduct on both occasions. 

I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) JAMES LAWRENCE. 

Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the JVavy. 

P. S. At* the commencement of the action, my sailing- 
master and seven men were absent in a prize ; and Lieu- 
tenant Stewart and six men on the sick list. As there is 
every prospect of the wind being to the eastward, in the 
morning I shall make the best of my way to New-York." 

The conduct of Lawrence towards his prisoners was 
such, as, we are proud to say, has uniformly characterized 
the officers of our navy. They have ever displayed the 
liberality and scrupulous delicacy of generous minds to- 
wards those whom the fortune of war has thrown in their 
power; and thus have won, by their magnanimity, those 



160 NAVAL AFFAIRS ON THE LAKES. 

whom they have conquered by their valour. The officers 
of the Peacock were so affected by the treatment they 
received from Captain Lawrence, that on their arrival at 
New-York they made a grateful acknowledgment in the 
public papers. To use their own expressive phrase, " they 
ceased to consider themselves prisoners." Nor must we 
omit to mention a circumstance highly to the honour of the 
brave tars of the Hornet. Finding that the crew of the 
Peacock had lost all their clothing by the sudden sinking of 
the vessel, they made a subscription, and from their own 
wardrobes supplied each man with two shirts, and a blue 
jacket and trowsers. Such may rough sailors be made, 
when they have before them the example of high-minded 
men. They are beings of but little reflection, open to the 
impulse and excitement of the moment ; and it depends, in 
a great measure, upon their officers, whether, under a Law- 
rence, they shall ennoble themselves by generous actions, 
or, under a Cockburn, be hurried away into scenes of un- 
premeditated atrocity. 

On returning to this country, Captain Lawrence was 
received with great distinction and applause, and various 
public bodies conferred on him peculiar tokens of approba- 
tion. 



It is proper to take notice of some events which occurred 
on lakes Erie and Ontario. The command of« these great 
inland seas, so important as it was afterwards found, does 
not appear to have been an object with the administration, 
as early as it should have been. The necessity of having a 
superior force on Lake Erie, was pointed out to the war 
department three months before the declaration of war, by 
General Hull, then governor of Michigan. This suggestion, 
however, was so little regarded, that, when hostilities took 
place, the United States had but one vessel on the lake, 
which was at that time repairing, and was not launched 
until the following month. This vessel was captured a very 
short time afterwards, being surrendered, by General Hull, 
with the garrison of Detroit. From this period, the United 



LAKE ONTARIO. 161 

States had no national vessel on the lake until the 9th of 
October, when a very gallant achievement put them in pos- 
session of one. Lieutenant Elliot of the navy, being at 
Black Rock, and seeing tvv'o British vessels lying under the 
guns of Fort Erie, determined to cut them out. Accord- 
ingly, he embarked at midnight, with about fifty volunteers, 
and, in a very few minutes, carried both, by boarding. 
The current was, however, so strong, that they were run 
aground ; and one of them, an armed vessel, called the De- 
troit, was afterwards burnt. The other was a merchant 
brig, and was laden with furs of great value. She was 
secured under the batteries of Black Rock. 

On Lake Ontario, the preparations of the government for 
naval warfare had not been greater than on Lake Erie. 
The brig Oneida, of sixteen guns, was the only armed ves- 
sel in commission on that lake, for some months after the 
declaration of war. In the month of October, however. 
Commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour, with 
a number of seamen, and exerted himself so efficiently, that, 
on the 7th of November, he sailed from that port with six 
schooners, which he had purchased and armed, in addition 
to the Oneida, the whole carrying forty guns, with four hun- 
dred and thirty men. The force of the enemy appears to 
have been more than double. On the 8th, the squadron fell 
in with the Royal George, of twenty-six guns, which they 
chased into the port of Kingston ; and, after a heavy can- 
nonade, compelled her to take refuge in the inner harbour. 
The batteries of the enemy, at Kingston, kept up a heavy 
fire, with very little injury, however, to the American ves- 
sels. Disappointed in the hope of inducing the Royal 
George to leave the protection of the batteries. Commodore 
Chauncey returned to Sackett's Harbour on the 12th, hav- 
ing obtained the complete command of the lake for the time. 
He then employed himself in superintending the building of 
the ship Madison, which was launched on the 26th of No- 
vember, having been completed in the short space of forty- 
five days.* 

14 * * Ramsay's United States. 





CHAPTER XII. 

Cruise of the Essex. 

II E subject of the navy was again 
l)roiight before Conjyress at its next 
session; and an act was passed (ap- 
proved 2d January, 1813,) " to in- 
crease the navy of the United States," 
by which the President was authorized 
to cause to be built four ships, of not 
less than 74 guns, and six ships, of not 
less than 44 guns, and the sum of two 
millions and a half of dollars was ap- 
propriated for this purpose. On the 
3d of March, of the same year, a sup- 
plementary act was passed authorizing 
^^J^^^^ the construction of six sloops of war, 
and also any number of armed vessels which the public ser- 
vice might require on the lakes : and the President was, at 
the same time, authorized to sell so many of the gun-boats, 

(1621 



THE ESSEX IN THE SOUTH SEA. 163 

as in his judgment might be no longer necessary to be re- 
tained, — a power which was the death-warrant to these 
vessels. 

We now return to the history of Commodore Bainbridge's 
squadron. The reader will recollect that one of the vessels 
composing this squadron was the frigate Essex, commanded 
by Captain David Porter, whose cruise, performed, a part 
of it, simultaneously with that of Bainbridge and Lawrence, 
is one of the most brilliant recorded in our naval annals. 

He proceeded to sea, from the Delaware, on the 27th of 
October, 1812, and repaired, agreeably to instructions from 
Commodore Bainbridge, to the coast of Brazil, where differ- 
ent places of rendezvous had been arranged between them. 
In the course of his cruise on this coast he captured his 
Britannic Majesty's packet Nocton, and, after taking out of 
her about 11,000 pounds sterling in specie, ordered her for 
America. Hearing of Commodore Bainbridge's victorious 
action with the Java, which would oblige him to return to 
port, and of the capture of the Hornet by the Montagu, 
and learning that there was a considerable augmentation of 
British force on the coast, and several ships in pursuit of 
him, he abandoned his hazardous cruising ground, and 
stretched away to the southward, scouring the coast as far 
as Rio de la Plata. From thence he shaped his course for 
the Pacific Ocean, and, after suffering greatly from want of 
provisions, and heavy gales off Cape Horn, arrived at Val- 
paraiso, on the 14th of March, 1813. Having victualled 
his ship, he ran down the coast of Chili and Peru, and fell 
in with a Peruvian corsair, having on board twenty-four 
Americans, as prisoners, the crews of two whaling ships, 
which she had taken on the coast of Chili. The Peruvian 
captain justified his conduct on the plea of being an ally of 
Great Britain, and the expectation likewise of a speedy war 
between Spain and the United States. Finding him resolved 
to persist in similar aggressions, Captain Porter threw all 
his guns and ammunition into the sea, liberated the Ameri- 
cans, and wrote a respectful letter to the viceroy, explaining 



164 NUMEROUS CAPTURES BY THE ESSEX. 

his reasons for so doing, which he delivered to the captain. 
He then proceeded to Lima, and kickily recaptured one of 
the American vessels as she was entering the port. 

After this he cruised for several months in the Pacific, 
inflicting immense injury on the British commerce in those 
waters. He was particularly destructive to the shipping 
employed in the spermaceti whale fishery. A great number 
with valuable cargoes were captured ; two were given up 
to the prisoners ; three sent to Valparaiso and laid up ; three 
sent to America ; one of them he retained as a store-ship, 
and another he equipped with twenty guns, called her the 
Essex Junior, and gave the command of her to Lieutenant 
Downes. Most of these ships mounted several guns, and 
had numerous crews ; and as several of them were captured 
by boats or by prizes, the officers and men of the Essex had 
frequent opportunities of showing their skill and courage, 
and of acquiring experience and confidence in naval conflict. 

Having now a little squadron under his command. Cap- 
tain Porter became a complete terror in those seas. As his 
numerous prizes supplied him abundantly with provisions, 
clothing, medicine, and naval stores of every description, he 
was enabled for a long time to keep the sea, w^ithout sick- 
ness or inconvenience to his crew; living entirely on the 
enemy, and being enabled to make considerable advances 
of pay to his officers and crew without drawing on govern- 
ment. The unexampled devastation achieved by his daring 
enterprises, not only spread alarm throughout the ports 
of the Pacific, but even occasioned uneasiness in Great 
Britain. The merchants who had any property afloat in 
this quarter, trembled with apprehension for its fate ; the 
underwriters groaned at the catalogue of captures brought 
by every advice, while the pride of the nation was sorely 
incensed at beholding a single frigate lording it over the Pa- 
cific, roving about the ocean in saucy defiance of their thou- 
sand ships ; revelling in the spoils of boundless wealth, and 
almost banishing the British flag from those regions, where 
it had so long waved proudly predominant. 



VESSELS SENT IN PURSUIT. 165 

Numerous ships were sent out to the Pacific in pursuit 
of him ; others were ordered to cruise in the China seas, off 
New Zealand, Timor, and New Holland, and a frigate was 
sent to the River La Plata. The manner in which Captain 
Porter cruised, however, completely baffled pursuit. Keep- 
ing in the open seas, or lurking among the numerous barren 
and desolate islands that form the Gallipagos group, and 
never touching on the American coast, he left no traces by 
which he could be followed ; rumour, while it magnified his 
exploits, threw his pursuers at fault ; they were distracted 
by vague accounts of captures made at different places, and 
of frigates, supposed to be the Essex, hovering at the same 
time off different coasts and haunting different islands. 

In the meanwhile Porter, though wrapped in mystery and 
uncertainty himself, yet received frequent and accurate ac- 
counts of his enemies, from the various prizes which he had 
taken. Lieutenant Downes, also, who had convoyed the 
prizes to Valparaiso, on his return, brought advices of the 
expected arrival of Commodore Hillyar in the Phoebe fri- 
gate, rating thirty-six guns, accompanied by two sloops of 
war. Glutted with spoil and havoc, and sated with the 
easy and inglorious captures of merchantmen. Captain Por- 
ter now felt eager for an opportunity to meet the enemy on 
equal terms, and to signalize his cruise by some brilliant 
achievement. Having been nearly a year at sea, he found 
that his ship would require some repairs, to enable her to 
face the foe ; he sailed, therefore, accompanied by several 
of his prizes, to the Island of Nooaheevah, one of the Wash- 
ington group, discovered by a Captain Ingraham of Boston. 
Here he landed, took formal possession of the island in the 
name of the government of the United States, and gave it 
the name of Madison's Island. He found it large, populous 
and fertile, abounding with the necessaries of life ; the na- 
tives in the vicinity of the harbour which he had chosen 
received him in the most friendly manner, and supplied him 
with abundance of provisions. During his stay at this 
place he had several encounters with some hostile tribes on 



166 PHCEBE AND CHERUB. 

the island, whom he succeeded in reducing to subjection. 
Having calked and completely overhauled the ship, made 
for her a new^ set of water-casks, and taken on board from 
the prizes provisions and stores for upwards of four months, 
he sailed for the coast of Chili on the 12th December, 1813. 
Previous to sailing he secured the three prizes which had 
accompanied him, under the guns of a battery erected for 
their protection, and left them in charge of Lieutenant 
Gamble of the marines and twenty -one men, with orders to 
proceed to Valparaiso after a certain period. 

After cruising on the coast of Chili without success, he 
proceeded to Valparaiso, in hopes of falling in with Com- 
modore Hillyar, or, if disappointed in this wish, of captur- 
ing some merchant ships said to be expected from England. 
While at anchor at this port, Commodore Hillyar arrived, 
having long been searching in vain for the Essex, and almost 
despairing of ever meeting with her. Contrary to the ex- 
pectations of Captain Porter, however. Commodore Hillyar, 
beside his own frigate, superior in itself to the Essex, was 
accompanied by the Cherub sloop-of-war, strongly armed 
and manned. These ships, having been sent out expressly 
to seek for the Essex, were in prime order and equipment, 
with picked crews, and hoisted flags bearing the motto " God 
and country, British sailors' best rights : traitors offend both." 
This was in opposition to Porter's motto of " Free trade and 
sailors' rights," and the latter part of it suggested, doubt- 
less, by error industriously cherished, that our crews were 
chiefly composed of English seamen. In reply to this motto 
Porter hoisted at his mizzen, " God, our country, and lib- 
erty : tyrants offend them." On entering the harbour, the 
PhcEbe fell foul of the Essex in such manner as to lay her 
at the mercy of Captain Porter ; out of respect, however, 
to the neutrality of the port, he did not take advantage of 
her exposed situation. This forbearance was afterwards 
acknowledged by Commodore Hillyar, and he passed his 
word of honour to observe like conduct while they remained 
in port. They continued, therefore, while in harbour and 



CAPTAIN HILLYAR'S POLICY. 167 

on shore, in the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind 
offices that should characterize the private intercourse be- 
tween civilized and generous enemies. And the crews of 
the respective ships often mingled together and passed nau- 
tical jokes and pleasantries from one to the other. 

On getting their provisions on board, the Phcebe and 
Cherub went off the port, where they cruised for six weeks, 
rigorously blockading Captain Porter. Their united force 
amounted to 81 guns and 500 men, in addition to which 
they took on board the crew of an English letter-of-marque 
lying in port. The force of the Essex consisted of but 46 
guns, all of which, excepting six long twelves, were 32- 
pound carronades, only serviceable in close fighting. Her 
crew, having been much reduced by the manning of prizes, 
amounted to but 255 men. The Essex Junior being only 
intended as a store-ship, mounted ten 18-pound carronades 
and ten short sixes, with a complement of only 60 men. 

This vast superiority of force on the part of the enemy 
prevented all chance of encounter, on any thing like equal 
terms, unless by express covenant between the commanders. 
Captain Porter, therefore, endeavoured repeatedly to pro- 
voke a challenge, (the inferiority of his frigate to the Phcebe 
not justifying him in making the challenge himself,) but 
without effect. He tried frequently, also, to bring the Phoebe 
into single action; but this Commodore Hillyar warily 
avoided, and always kept his ships so close together as to 
frustrate Captain Porter's attempts. This conduct of Com- 
modore Hillyar has been sneered at by many, as unworthy 
a brave officer : but it should be considered that he had 
more important objects to effect than the mere exhibition of 
individual or national prowess. His instructions were to 
crush a noxious foe, destructive to the commerce of his 
country ; he was furnished with a force competent to this 
duty ; and having the enemy once within his power, he had 
no right to waive his superiority, and, by meeting him on 
equal footing, give him a chance to conquer, and continue 
his work of destruction. 



16S THE ESSEX ATTACKED. 

Finding it impossible to bring the enemy to equal combat ; 
and fearing the arrival of additional force, which he under- 
stood was on the way, Captain Porter determined to put to 
sea the first opportunity that should present. A rendezvous 
was accordingly appointed for the Essex Junior, and having 
ascertained by repeated trials that the Essex was a superior 
sailer to either of the blockading ships, it was agreed that 
she should let the enemy chase her off; thereby giving the 
Essex Junior an opportunity of escaping. 

On the next day, the 28th March, the wind came on to 
blow fresh from the southward, and the Essex parted her 
larboard cable and dragged her starboard anchor directly 
out to sea. Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the 
ship ; but perceiving that the enemy was close in with the 
point forming the west side of the bay, and that there was 
a possibility of passing to windward, and escaping to sea 
by superior sailing, Captain Porter resolved to hazard the 
attempt. He accordingly took in his top-gallant sails and 
braced up for the purpose, but most unfortunately on round- 
ing the point a heavy squall struck the ship and carried 
away her main-top-mast, precipitating the men who were 
aloft into the sea, who were drowned. Both ships now 
gave chase, and the crippled state of his ship left Porter no 
alternative but to endeavour to regain the port. Finding 
it impossible to get back to the common anchorage, he ran 
close into a small bay about three-quarters of a mile to lee- 
ward of the battery, on the east of the harbour, and let go 
his anchor within pistol-shot of the shore. Supposing the 
enemy would, as formerly, respect the neutrality of the 
place, he considered himself secure, and thought only of 
repairing the damages he had sustained. The wary and 
menacing approach of the hostile ships, however, displaying 
their motto flags and having jacks at all their masts' heads, 
soon showed him the real danger of his situation. With 
all possible despatch he got his ship ready for action, and 
endeavoured to get a spring on his cable, but had not sue- 



THE BATTLE. 169 

ceeded, when, at 54 minutes past 3 P. M., the enemy com- 
menced an attack. 

At first the Phoibe lay herself under his stern and the 
Cherub on his starboard-bow ; but the latter soon finding 
herself exposed to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stern 
also, where both ships kept up a severe and raking fire. 
Captain Porter succeeded three difterent times in getting 
springs on his cables, for the purpose of bringing his broad- 
side to bear on the enemy, but they were as often shot away 
by the excessive fire to which he was exposed. He was 
obliged, therefore, to rely for defence against this tremen- 
dous attack merely on three long twelve-pounders, which 
he had run out of the stern ports ; and which were worked 
with such bravery and skill as in half an hour to do great 
injury to both the enemy's ships and induce them to haul 
off and repair damages. It was evidently the intention of 
Commodore Hillyar to risk nothing from the daring courage 
of his antagonist, but to take the Essex at as cheap a rate 
as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate and wary ; 
he saw his antagonist completely at his mercy, and prepared 
to cut him up in the safest and surest manner. In the mean 
time the situation of the Essex was galling and provoking 
in the extreme ; crippled and shattered, with many killed 
and wounded, she lay awaiting the convenience of the ene- 
my, to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope of 
escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of 
being disheartened, were aroused to desperation, and by 
hoisting ensigns in their rigging and jacks in different parts 
of the ship, evinced their defiance and determination to hold 
out to the last. 

The enemy having repaired his damages, now placed 
himself, with both his ships, on the starboard-quarter of the 
Essex, out of reach of her carronades, and where her stern 
guns could not be brought to bear. Here he kept up a most 
destructive fire, which it was not in Captain Porter's power 
to return ; the latter, therefore, saw no hope of injuring him 
without getting under way and becoming the assailant. 
15 w 



170 THE BATTLE. 

From the mangled state of his rigging he could set no other 
sail than the flying jib; this he caused to be hoisted, cut 
his cable, and ran down on both ships, with an intention of 
laying the Phoebe on board. 

For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy, 
and the firing on both sides was tremendous. The decks 
of the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled 
with wounded ; she had been several times on fire, and was 
in fact a mere wreck; still a feeble hope sprung up that 
she might be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being 
compelled to haul off by her crippled state ; she did not 
return to close action again, but kept up a distant firing with 
her long guns. The disabled state of the Essex, however, 
did not permit her to take advantage of this circumstance ; 
for want of sail she was unable to keep at close quarters 
with the Phoebe, who, edging off, chose the distance which 
best suited her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire, 
which made dreadful havoc among her adversary's men. 
Many of the guns of the Essex were rendered useless, and 
many had their whole crews destroyed : they were manned 
from those that were disabled, and one gun in particular was 
three times manned ; fifteen men were slain at it in the course 
of the action, though the captain of it escaped with only a 
slight wound. Captain Porter now gave up all hope of 
closing with the enemy, but finding the wind favourable, 
determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and de- 
stroy her. He had approached within musket-shot of the 
shore, and had every prospect of succeeding, when in an 
instant the wind shifted from the land and drove her down 
upon the Phcsbe, exposing her again to a dreadful raking 
fire. • The ship was now totally unmanageable ; yet as her 
head was toward the enemy, and he to leeward. Captain 
Porter again perceived a faint hope of boarding. At this 
moment Lieutenant Downes of the Essex Junior came on 
board to receive orders, expecting that Captain Porter would 
soon be a prisoner. His services could be of no avail in 
the deplorable state of the Essex, and finding from the ene- 



THE BATTLE. 171 

my's putting his helm up, that the last attempt at boarding 
would not succeed, Captain Porter directed him, after he 
had been ten minutes on board, to return to his own ship, 
to be prepared for defending and destroying her in case of 
attack. He took with him several of the wounded, leaving 
three of his boat's crew on board to make room for them. 
The Cherub kept up a hot fire on him during his return. 
The slaughter on board of the Essex now became horrible, 
the enemy continued to rake her, while she was unable to 
bring a gun to bear in return. Still her commander, with 
an obstinacy that bordered on desperation, persisted in the 
unequal and almost hopeless conflict. Every expedient that 
a fertile and inventive mind could suggest was resorted to, 
in the forlorn hope that they might yet be enabled by some 
lucky chance to escape from the grasp of the foe. A halser 
was bent to the sheet-anchor, and the anchor cut from the 
bows, to bring the ship's head round. This succeeded ; the 
broadside of the Essex was again brought to bear ; and, as 
the enemy was much crippled and unable to hold his own, 
Captain Porter thought she might drift out of gun-shot be- 
fore she discovered that he had anchored. The halser, how- 
ever, unfortunately parted, and with it failed the last lin- 
gering hope of the Essex. The ship had taken fire several 
times during the action, but at this moment her situation 
was awful. She was on fire both forward and aft ; the 
flames were bursting up each hatchway ; a large quantity 
of powder below exploded, and word was given that the fire 
was near the magazine. Thus surrounded by horrors, with- 
out any chance of saving the ship. Captain Porter turned 
his attention to rescuing as many of his brave companions 
as possible. Finding his distance from the shore did not 
exceed three-quarters of a mile, he hoped many would be 
able to save themselves should the ship blow up. His boats 
had been cut to pieces by the enemies' shot, but he advised 
such as could swim to jump overboard and make for shore. 
Some reached it — some were taken by the enemy, and some 
perished in the attempt ; but most of this loyal and gallant 



172 THE ESSEX SURRENDERS. 

crew preferred sharing the fate of their ship and their com- 
mander. 

Those who remained on board now endeavoured to extin- 
guish the flames, and having succeeded, went again to the 
guns and kept up a firing for a few minutes ; but the crew 
had by this time become so weakened that all further resist- 
ance was in vain. Captain Porter summoned a consulta- 
tion of the officers of divisions, but was surprised to find 
only acting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur M'Knight remain- 
ing; of the others some had been killed, others knocked 
overboard, and others carried below disabled by severe 
wounds. The accounts from every part of the ship were 
deplorable in the extreme; representing her in the most 
shattered and crippled condition, in imminent danger of 
sinking, and so crowded with the wounded that even the 
berth-deck could contain no more, and many were killed 
while under the surgeon's hands. In the meanwhile the 
enemy, in consequence of the smoothness of the water and 
his secure distance, was enabled to keep up a deliberate and 
constant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty as if firing 
at a target, and hitting the hull at every shot. At length, 
utterly despairing of saving the ship. Captain Porter was 
compelled, at 20 minutes past 6 P. M., to give the painful 
order to strike the colours. It is probable the enemy did 
not perceive that the ship had surrendered, for he continued 
firing; several men were killed and wounded in different 
parts of the ship, and Captain Porter, thinking he intended 
to show no quarter, was about to rehoist his flag and to fight 
until he sunk, when the enemy desisted from his attack, ten 
minutes after the surrender. 

The foregoing account of this battle is taken almost ver- 
batim from the letter of Captain Porter to the Secretary 
of the navy. Making every allowance for its being a par- 
tial statement, this must certainly have been one of the most 
sanguinary and obstinately contested actions on naval re- 
cord. The loss of the Essex is a sufficient testimony of the 
desperate bravery with which she was defended. Out of 



THE AMERICAN LOSS. 173 

255 men which comprised her crew, fifty-eight were killed ; 
thirty-nine wounded severely; twenty-seven slightly, and 
thirty-one missing; making in all 154. 

Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were specta- 
tors of the battle, covering the neighbouring heights : for it 
was fought so near the shore that some of the shot even 
struck among the citizens, who, in the eagerness of their 
curiosity, had ventured down upon the beach. Touched by 
the forlorn situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration 
at the unflagging spirit and persevering bravery of her com- 
mander and crew, a generous anxiety ran throughout the 
multitude for their fate : bursts of delight arose when, by 
any vicissitude of battle, or prompt expedient, a chance 
seemed to turn up in their favour ; and the eager spectators 
were seen to wring their hands, and uttered groans of sym- 
pathy, when the transient hope was defeated, and the gal- 
lant little frigate once more became an unresisting object 
of deliberate slaughter. 

It is needless to mention particularly the many instances 
of individual valour and magnanimity among both the offi- 
cers and common sailors of the Essex : their general con- 
duct bears ample testimony to their heroism; and it will 
hereafter be a sufficient distinction for any man to prove 
that he was present in that battle. Every action that we 
have fought at sea has gone to destroy some envious shade 
which the enemy has attempted to cast on our rising repu- 
tation. After the affair of the Argus and the Pelican, it 
was asserted that our sailors were brave only while success- 
ful and unhurt, but that the sight of slaughter filled them 
with dismay. In this battle it has been proved that they 
are capable of the highest exercise of courage — that of 
standing unmoved among incessant carnage, without being 
able to return a shot, and destitute of a hope of ultimate 
success. 

Though, from the distance and positions which the enemy 
chose, this battle was chiefly fought on our part by six 
twelve-pounders only, vet great damage was done to the 
15* 



174 LOSS OF THE BRITISH. 

assailing ships. Their masts and yards were badly crippled, 
their hulls much cut up; the Phoebe, especially, received 18 
twelve-pound shot below her water-line, some three feet 
under water. Their loss in killed and wounded was not 
ascertained, but must have been severe ; the first lieutenant 
of the Phcebe was killed, and Captain Tucker, of the Che- 
rub, was severely wounded. It was with some difficulty 
that the Phoebe and the Essex could be kept afloat until 
they anchored the next morning in the port of Valparaiso. 
Much indignation has been expressed against Commodore 
Hillyar for his violation of the laws of nations, and of his 
private agreement with Captain Porter, by attacking him 
in the neutral waters of Valparaiso ; waiving all discussion 
of these points, it may barely be observed, that his cautious 
attack with a vastly superior force, on a crippled ship, 
which, relying on his forbearance, had placed herself in a 
most defenceless situation, and which for six weeks previous 
had offered him fair fight, on advantageous terms, though it 
may reflect great credit on his prudence, yet certainly fur- 
nishes no triumph to a brave and generous mind. Aware, 
however, of that caution which ought to be observed in esti- 
mating the actions of a commander whose peculiar views 
of duty may not be obvious to a distant observer, we refrain 
from assailing the character of Commodore Hillyar. In- 
deed, his conduct after the battle entitles him to high enco- 
mium ; he showed the greatest humanity to the wounded, 
and, as Captain Porter acknowledges, endeavoured as much 
as lay in his power to alleviate the distresses of war by 
the most generous and delicate deportment towards both 
the officers and crew, commanding that the property of 
every person should be respected. Captain Porter and his 
crew were paroled, and permitted to return to the United 
States in the Essex Junior, her armament being previously 
taken out. On arriving off' the port of New- York, they 
were overhauled by the Saturn razee, the authority of Com- 
modore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, and the 
Essex Junior detained. Captain Porter then told the board- 



CAPTAIN PORTER RETURNS HOME. 



175 



ing officer that he gave up his parole, and considered him- 
self a prisoner of war, and as such should use all means of 
escape. In consequence of this threat, the Essex Junior 
was ordered to remain all night under the lee of the Saturn, 
but the next morning Captain Porter put off in his boat, 
though thirty miles from shore; and, notwithstanding he 
was pursued by the Saturn, effected his escape, and landed 
safely on Long Island. His reception in the United States 
was such as his great services and distinguished valour 
deserved. The various interesting and romantic rumours 
that had reached this country concerning him, during his 
cruise in the Pacific, had excited the curiosity of the public 
to see this modern Sinbad ; on arriving in New-York his 
carriage was surrounded by the populace, who demonstrated 
their sense of his heroic achievements, by the most enthusi- 
astic plaudits. 




176 



COMMODORE STEWART. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Naval Campaign o/" 1813 Continued. 




H E frigate Constel- 
lation was one of 
those vessels which, 
at the commence- 
ment of the war 
with Great Britain, 
required extensive 
repairs ; and there 
appearing but little 
hope of getting her 
to sea before the be- 
ginning of the year 
1813, her command- 
er, Captain Stewart, 
^.^ proceeded to Wash- 
' ingtonand projected 
an expedition for the Argus and Hornet. The President 
and Secretary of the Navy approved of it, and appointed 
Captain Stewart to undertake its direction. He returned 
to New- York for that purpose, but those vessels had sailed 
with the squadron under the command of Commodore Rod- 
gers, and the project was, in consequence, abandoned. 

In September he resumed the command of the Constella- 
tion, and by the month of January she was completely 
equipped. She was directed to proceed at first to Norfolk. 
On the 4th of February, 1813, she anchored in Hampton 
Roads, very late in the evenmg. Having learned that the 
enemy were off the Chesapeake in great force, and presum- 
ing that they would soon be informed of her situation. Cap- 
tain Stewart sent to Hampton at midnight, for a Norfolk 



THE CONSTITUTION FRIGATE. 177 

pilot, in order to be prepared for a retreat if it siiould be- 
come necessary. At seven o'clock next morning, the enemy 
approached with two ships of the line, three frigates, a brig 
and a schooner. No time was now to be lost. Captain 
Stewart got up his anchor, and there being no wind, and 
the ebb-tide making, commenced kedging his ship towards 
Norfolk. He succeeded in getting her partly over the flats 
at Sowell's point, when the tide had fallen so much that she 
took the ground. By this time the enemy had got within 
three miles of her position, when they were obliged to an- 
chor. Captain Stewart, apprehensive that they would 
kedge up one of their line-of-battle ships, pressed all the 
craft he could lay hold of, unloaded his frigate of every 
thing that could be removed, and made preparations for 
burning her, in the last extremity. He sent to Norfolk for 
the gun-boats to assist him, but such was their condition 
that none of them could be sent to him. As the enemy lay 
quiet for the want of wind until the flood-tide made, Cap- 
tain Stewart continued lightening the ship. At the first 
quarter she floated. He then sent ofl" the boats with a pilot 
to station them on the different shoals with lights ; and with 
these precautions he was enabled to get the ship up to Nor- 
folk in the night, through a difficult channel. Her safe 
retreat diffused universal joy among the inhabitants of that 
city, to whose security she afterwards greatly contributed. 
A division of gun-boats was put in condition for service, 
and manned from her crew. By this means the communi- 
cation with James river and Hampton was kept open, and 
every facility afforded to the transportation of the troops to 
their different stations. 

Captain Stewart, seeing that there was hardly a possi- 
bility of getting the Constellation to sea, applied for and 
obtained, in June, 1813, the command of the frigate Consti- 
tution, then vacant by the appointment of Commodore Bain- 
bridge to the superintendence of the navy-yard at Boston. 
On the 30th of December, in the same year, the Constitu- 
tion proceeded to sea from Boston harbour, although it was 



176 CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. 

then blockaded by seven ships of war. During this cruise 
she captured the British schooner-of-war Picton of sixteen 
guns, together with a letter-of-marque ship under her con- 
voy ; the brig Catharine and schooner Phoenix ; and chased 
a British frigate, supposed to be the La Pique, in the Mona 
passage. On the 4th of April, 1814, she returned to Bos- 
ton bay, and was chased into Marblehead by two of the 
enemy's heavy frigates. La Nymphe and Junon. The re- 
turn of the Constitution into port without having performed 
the latter part of her cruise, as directed by the navy de- 
partment, gave occasion to an inquiry, the result of which 
proved satisfactory to the officers of that ship, as well as to 
the government, and the public. 

During the absence of Captain James Lawrence on the 
cruise with Commodore Bainbridge, in which the Hornet 
captured the Peacock, the rank of post-captain had been 
conferred on him, and shortly after his return he received a 
letter from the Secretary of the Navy, offering him the 
command of the frigate Constitution, provided neither Cap- 
tain Porter nor Evans applied for it, they being older officers. 
Captain Lawrence respectfully declined this conditional 
appointment, for satisfactory reasons which he stated to the 
Secretary. He then received an unconditional appointment 
to that frigate, and directions to superintend the navy-yard 
at New- York in the absence of Captain Ludlow. The next 
day, to his great surprise and chagrin, he received counter 
orders, with instructions to take command of the frigate 
Chesapeake, then lying at Boston, nearly ready for sea. 
This appointment was particularly disagreeable to him. 
He was prejudiced against the Chesapeake, both from her 
being considered the worst ship in our navy, and from hav- 
ing been in a manner disgraced in the affair with the Leop- 
ard. This last circumstance had acquired her the charac- 
ter of an unlucky ship — the worst of stigmas among sailors, 
who are devout believers in good and bad luck ; and so de- 
trimental was it to this vessel, that it had been found diffi- 
cult to recruit crews for her. 



THE CHESAPEAKE CHALLENGED. 179 

The extreme repugnance that Captain Lawrence felt to 
this appointment induced him to write to the Secretary of 
the Navy, requesting to be continued in the command of 
the Hornet. Besides, it was his wish to remain some short 
time in port, and enjoy a little repose in the bosom of his 
family. But, though he wrote four letters successively to 
the Secretary, he never received an answer, and was obliged 
reluctantly to acquiesce. 

While lying in Boston Roads, nearly ready for sea, the 
British frigate Shannon appeared off the harbour, and made 
signals expressive of a challenge. The brave Lawrence 
immediately determined on accepting it, though conscious 
at the time of the great disparity between the two ships. 
The Shannon was a prime vessel, equipped in an extraordi- 
nary manner, for the express purpose of combating advan- 
tageously one of our largest frigates. She had an unusually 
numerous crew of picked men, thoroughly disciplined and 
well officered. She was commanded by Captain Broke, one 
of the bravest and ablest officers in the service, who fought 
merely for reputation. 

On the other hand, the Chesapeake was an indifferent 
ship : with a crew, a great part of whom were newly re- 
cruited, and not brought into proper discipline. They were 
strangers to their commander, who had not had time to pro- 
duce that perfect subordination, yet strong personal attach- 
ment, which he had the talent of creating wherever he com- 
manded. His first lieutenant was sick on shore ; the other 
officers, though meritorious, were young men ; two of them 
mere acting lieutenants ; most of them recently appointed 
to the ship, and unacquainted with the men. Those who 
are in the least informed in nautical aflliirs, must perceive 
the greatness of these disadvantages. 

The most earnest endeavours were used by some of his 
friends, to dissuade Captain Lawrence from what was con- 
sidered a rash and unnecessary exposure. He felt and ac- 
knowledged the force of their reasons, but persisted in his 
determination. He was peculiarly situated : he had for- 



180 THE CHESAPEAKE SAILS. 

merly challenged the Bonne Citoyenne, and should he de- 
cline a similar challenge, it might subject him to sneers and 
misrepresentations. Among the other unfortunate circum- 
stances that attended this ill-starred battle, was the delay 
of a written challenge from Captain Broke, which did not 
arrive until after Captain Lawrence had sailed. It is stated 
to have been couched in the most frank and courteous lan- 
guage ; minutely detailing the force of his ship : and offer- 
ing, if the Chesapeake should not be completely prepared, 
to cruise off and on until such time as she made a specified 
signal of being ready for the conflict. It is to be deeply 
regretted that Captain Lawrence did not receive this gallant 
challenge, as it would have given him time to put his ship 
in proper order, and spared him the necessity of hurrying 
out in his unprepared condition, to so formidable and mo- 
mentous an encounter. 

After getting the ship under way, he called the crew 
together, and having ordered the white flag to be hoisted, 
bearing the motto, " Free trade and sailors' rights," he, ac- 
cording to custom, made them a short harangue. While he 
was speaking several murmurs were heard, and strong symp- 
toms of dissatisfaction appeared in the manners and coun- 
tenances of the crew. After he had finished, a scoundrel 
Portuguese, who was boatswain's mate, and acted as spokes- 
man to the murmurers, replied to Captain Lawrence in an 
insolent manner, complaining, among other things, that they 
had not been paid their prize-money, which had been due 
for some time past. 

The critical nature of the moment, and his ignorance of 
the dispositions and characters of his crew, would not allow 
Captain Lawrence to notice such dastardly and mutinous 
conduct in the manner it deserved. He dared not thwart 
the humours of men, over whose affections he had not had 
time to acquire any influence, and therefore ordered the 
purser to take them below and give them checks for their 
prize-money, which was accordingly done. 

We dwell on these particulars to show the disastrous and 



CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 181 

disheartening circumstances under which Captain Lawrence 
went forth to this battle — circumstances which shook even 
his calm and manly breast, and filled him with a despond- 
ency unusual to his nature. Justice to the memory of this 
invaluable officer, requires that the disadvantages under 
which he fought should be made public* 

It was on the morning of the I st of June that the Chesa- 
peake put to sea. The Shannon, on seeing her come out, 
bore away, and the other followed. At 4 P. M. the Chesa- 
peake hauled up and fired a gun ; the Shannon then hove-to. 
The vessels manoeuvred in awful silence until within pistol- 
shot, when the Shannon opened her fire, and both vessels 
almost at the same moment poured forth tremendous broad- 
sides. The execution in both ships was terrible, but the 
fire of the Shannon was peculiarly fatal, not only making 
great slaughter among the men, but cutting down some of 
the most valuable officers. The very first shot killed Mr. 
White, sailing-master of the Chesapeake, an excellent officer, 
whose loss at such a moment was disastrous in the extreme. 
The fourth lieutenant, Mr. Ballard, received also a mortal 
wound in this broadside, and at the same moment Captain 
Lawrence was shot through the leg with a musket-ball ; he 
however supported himself on the companion-way, and con- 
tinued to give his orders with his usual coolness. About 
three broadsides were exchanged, which, from the closeness 
of the ships, were dreadfully destructive. The Chesapeake 
had three men shot from her helm successively, each taking 
it as the other fell ; this of course produced irregularity in 
the steering, and the consequence was, that her anchor 
caught in one of the Shannon's after ports. She was thus 
in a position where her guns could not be brought to bear 
upon the enemy, while the latter was enabled to fire raking 
shots from her foremost guns, which swept the upper decks 
of the Chesapeake, killing or wounding the greater portion 



* The particulars of this action are chiefly given from a conversation 
with one of the officers of the Chesapeake; and we believe may be relied 
on as authentic. 
16 



182 CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 

of the men. A hand-grenade was thrown on the quarter- 
deck, which set fire to some musket-cartridges, but did no 
other damage. 

In this state of carnage and exposure, about twenty of 
the Shannon's men, seeing a favourable opportunity for 
boarding, without waiting for orders, jumped on the deck 
of the Chesapeake. Captain Lawrence had scarce time to 
call his boarders, when he received a second and mortal 
wound from a musket-ball, which lodged in his intestines. 
Lieutenant Cox, who commanded the second division, rushed 
up at the call for the boarders, but came just in time to 
receive his falling commander. He was in the act of car- 
rying him below, when Captain Broke, accompanied by his 
first lieutenant, and followed by his regular boarders, sprang 
on board the Chesapeake. The brave Lawrence saw the 
overvv'helming danger; his last words, as he was borne 
bleeding from the deck, were, " don't surrender the ship !" 

Samuel Livermore, Esq., of Boston, who from personal 
attachment to Captain Lawrence had accompanied him in 
this cruise as chaplain, attempted to revenge his fall. He 
shot at Captain Bi'oke, but missed him : the latter made a 
cut at his head, which Livermore warded off, but in so 
doing received a severe wound in the arm. The only officer 
that now remained on the upper deck was Lieutenant Lud- 
low, who was so entirely weakened and disabled by re- 
peated wounds, received early in the action, as to be inca- 
pable of personal resistance. The comparatively small 
number of men, therefore, that survived on the upper decks, 
having no officer to head them, the British succeeded in se- 
curing complete possession, before those from below could 
get up. Lieutenant Budd, who had commanded the first 
division below, being informed of the danger, hastened up 
with some men, but was overpowered by superior numbers 
and c«t down immediately. Great embarrassment took 
place, in consequence of the officers being unacquainted with 
the crew. In one instance in particular, Lieutenant Cox, 
on mounting the deck, joined a party of the enemy through 



CHESAPEAKE SURRENDERS. 183 

mistake, and was made sensible of his error by their cutting 
at him with their sabres. 

While this scene of havoc and confusion was going on 
above, Captain Lawrence, who was lying in the wardroom 
in excruciating pain, hearing the firing cease, forgot the an- 
guish of his wounds : having no officer near him, he ordered 
the surgeon to hasten on deck and tell the officers to fight 
on to the last, and never to strike the colours ; adding, 
" they shall wave while I live." The fate of the battle, 
however, was decided. Finding all further resistance vain, 
and a mere waste of life, Lieutenant Ludlow gave up the 
ship ; after which he received a sabre wound in the head 
from one of the Shannon's crew, which fractured his skull 
amd ultimately proved mortal. He was one of the most 
promising officers of his age in the service, highly esteemed 
for his professional talents, and beloved for the generous 
qualities that adorned his private character. 

Thus terminated one of the most remarkable combats on 
naval record. From the peculiar accidents that attended it, 
the battle was short, desperate and bloody. So long as the 
cannonading continued, the Chesapeake is said to have 
clearly had the advantage; and had the ships not run foul, 
it is pjrobable she would have captured the Shannon. Though 
considerably damaged in her upper works, and pierced with 
some shot-holes in her hull, yet she had sustained no injury 
to affect her safety ; whereas the Shannon had received 
several shots between wind and water, and, consequently, 
could not have sustained the action long. The havoc on 
both sides was dreadful ; but to the singular circumstance 
of having every officer on the upper deck either killed or 
wounded, early in the action, may chiefly be attributed the 
loss of the Chesapeake. 

Various vague complaints were circulated at the time of 
the excesses of the victors, and of their treatment of the 
Chesapeake's crew after the surrender. These were, as 
usual, dwelt on and magnified, and made subjects of national 
aspersion. Nothing could be more illiberal than this. 



184 RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 

Where the scene of conflict is tumultuous and sanguinary, 
and the struggle desperate, as in the boarding of a ship, 
excesses will take place among the men which it is impossi- 
ble to prevent. They are the inevitable incidents of war, 
and should never be held up to provoke national abhorrence 
or retaliation. Indeed, they are so liable to be misrepre- 
sented by partial and distorted accounts, that very little 
faith is ever to be placed in them. Such, for instance, is 
the report that the enemy discharged several muskets into 
the cockpit after the ship had been given up. This, in fact, 
was provoked by the wanton act of a boy below, who shot 
down the sentinel stationed at the gangway, and thus pro- 
duced a momentary exasperation, and an alarm that our 
men were rising. It should be recollected, likewise, that 
our flag was not struck, but was hauled down by the enemy ; 
consequently, the surrender of the ship was not immedi- 
ately known throughout, and the struggle continued in va- 
rious places, before the proper orders could be communi- 
cated. 

The two ships presented dismal spectcales after the battle. 
Crowded with the wounded and the dying, they resembled 
floating hospitals sending forth groans at every roll. The 
brave Broke lay delirious from a wound in the head, which 
he is said to have received while endeavouring to prevent 
the slaughter of some of our men who had surrendered. In 
his rational intervals he always spoke in the highest terms 
of the courage and skill of Lawrence, and of " the gallant 
and masterly style" in which he brought the Chesapeake 
into action. 

The wounds of Captain Lawrence rendered it impossible 
to remove him after the battle, and his cabin being very 
much shattered, he remained in the wardroom. Here he 
lay, attended by his own surgeon, and surrounded by his 
brave and suffering officers. He made no comment on the 
battle, nor indeed was heard to utter a word, except to 
make such simple requests as his necessities required. In 
this way he lingered through four days, in extreme bodily 



DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. 185 

pain, and the silent melancholy of a proud and noble heart, 
and then expired. His body was wrapped in the colours 
of his ship and laid on the quarter-deck of the Chesapeake, 
to be conveyed to Halifax for interment. 

At the time of his death he was but thirty-two years of 
age, nearly sixteen of which had been honourably expended 
in the service of his country. He was a disciplinarian of 
the highest order, producing perfect obedience and subordi- 
nation without severity. His men became zealously devoted 
to him, and ready to do through aflection what severity 
would never have compelled. He was scrupulously correct 
in his principles, delicate in his sense of honour ; and to his 
extreme jealousy of reputation he fell a victim, in daring 
an ill-matched encounter, which prudence would have justi- 
fied him in declining. In battle, where his lofty and com- 
manding person made him conspicuous, the calm collected 
courage, and elevated tranquillity, which he maintained in 
the midst of peril, imparted a confidence to every bosom. 
In the hour of victory he was moderate and unassuming; 
towards the vanquished he was gentle, generous and hu- 
mane. But it is on the amiable qualities that adorned his 
private character, that his friends will hang with the fond- 
est remembrance — that bland philanthropy that emanated 
from every look, that breathed forth in every accent, that 
gave a grace to every action. His was a general benevo- 
lence, that, like a lambent flame, shed its cheering rays 
throughout the sphere of his influence, warming and glad- 
dening every heart, and lighting up every countenance into 
smiles. But there was one little circle on whose sacred sor- 
rows even the eye of .sympathy dared not intrude. His 
brother being dead, he was the last male branch of a family 
who looked up to him as its ornament and pride. His fra- 
ternal tenderness was the prop and consolation of two wi- 
dowed sisters, and in him their helpless offspring found a 
father. He left, also, a wife and two young children to 
whom he was fervently attached. The critical situation of 
16* Y 



186 CHARACTER OF LAWRENCE. 

the former was one of those cares which preyed upon his 
mind at the time he went forth to battle. 

There is a touching pathos about the death of this esti- 
mable officer, that endears him more to us than if he had 
been successful. The prosperous conqueror is an object of 
admiration, but in some measure of envy : whatever gi^ati- 
tude we feel for his services, we are apt to think them re- 
paid by the plaudits he enjoys. But he who falls a martyr 
to his country's cause excites the fullness of public sympa- 
thy. Envy cannot repine at laurels so dearly purchased, 
and gratitude feels that he is beyond the reach of its re- 
wards. The last sad scene of his life hallows his memory ; 
it remains sacred by misfortune, and honoured, not by the 
acclamations, but the tears of his countrymen. The idea 
of Lawrence, cut down in the prime of his days, stretched 
upon his deck, wrapped in the flag of his country — that flag 
which he had contributed to ennoble, and had died to defend 
— is a picture that will remain treasured up in the dearest 
recollections of every American. His will form one of those 
talismanic names which every nation preserves as watch- 
words for patriotism and valour. 

Deeply, therefore, as every bosom must lament the fall of 
so gallant and amiable an officer, there are some reflections 
consoling to the pride of friendship, and which may soothe, 
though they cannot prevent, the bitter tear of affection. 
He fell before his flag was struck. His fall was the cause, 
not the consequence, of defeat. He fell, covered with glory, 
in the flower of his days, in the perfection of mental and 
personal endowment, and the freshness of reputation ; thus 
leaving in every mind the full and perfect image of a hero. 
However we may deplore the stroke of death, his visits are 
occasionally well-timed for his victim : he sets a seal upon 
the fame of the illustrious, fixing it beyond the reach of 
accident or change. And where is the son of honour, pant- 
ing for distinction, who would not rather, like Lawrence, be 
snatched away in the brightness of youth and glory, than 
dwindle down to what is termed a good old age, wear his 



FUNERAL OF LAWRENCE. 187 

reputation to the shreds, and leave behind him nothing but 
the remembrance of decrepitude and imbecility ? 

With feelings that swell our hearts do we record the 
honours paid to the remains of the brave Lawrence at Hali- 
fax. When the ships arrived in port, a generous concern 
was expressed for his fate. The recollection of his humanity 
towards the crew of the Peacock was still fresh in every 
mind. His funeral obsequies were celebrated with appro- 
priate ceremonials, and an affecting solemnity. His pall 
was supported by the oldest captains in the British service 
that were in Halifax; and the naval officers crowded to 
yield the last sad honours to a man who was late their foe, 
but now their foe no longer. There is a sympathy between 
gallant souls that knows no distinction of clime or nation. 
They honour in each other what they feel proud of in them- 
selves. The group that gathered round the grave of Law- 
rence presented a scene worthy of the heroic days of chiv- 
alry. It was a complete triumph of the nobler feelings over 
the savage passions of war. We know not where most to 
bestow our admiration — on the living, who showed such 
generous sensibility to departed virtue, or on the dead, in 
being worthy of such obsequies from such spirits. It is by 
deeds like these that we really feel ourselves subdued. The 
conflict of arms is ferocious, and triumph does but engender 
more deadly hostility ; but the contest of magnanimity calls 
forth the better feelings, and the conquest is over the affec- 
tions.* 

Soon afterwards, Mr. Crowninshield, of Salem, and ten 
other masters of vessels, sailed, under a flag of truce, to 
Halifax, and conveyed thence to Salem the bodies of Cap- 
tain Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlow, where funeral cere- 
monies of the most imposing kind were performed in honour 
of the dead. The remains of Captain Lawrence were sub- 
sequently removed to the city of New- York, and interred 
with distinguished honours. 

* Analectic Magazine. 



188 



CRUISE OF THE ARGUS. 



CHAPTER XIV, 



Cruise and Capture of the Argus. Capture of the Boxer. 

H E cruise of the Ar- 
gus in the British 
Channel is one of 
the most brilliant in 
our naval history. 
This vessel left the 
United States on 
the 18th of June, 
1813; exactly one 
year after the decla- 
ration of war. She 
was commanded by 
Capt. William Hen- 
ry Allen, and it was 
a part of her busi- 
ness to convey Mr. 
Crawford, the American Minister Plenipotentiary to France. 
Having performed this duty, Captain Allen entered upon a 
cruise, on the coasts of England, where he made the great- 
est havoc among the merchantmen of the enemy which had 
been witnessed in those waters since the days of Paul Jones. 
Twenty British merchant-vessels were captured before 
the 14th of August, when this brilliant career disastrously 
terminated in the capture of the Argus, by an enemy of 
greatly superior size and weight of metal. 

The boldness of Captain Allen's exploits was only equalled 
by the courtesy and kindness with which he treated the 
prisoners who fell into his hands ; and the generosity and 
chivalry of his character were fully acknowledged by the 
enemy, in the honours which they paid to his memory, when 




CAPTURE OF THE ARGUS. 189 

the fortune of war had devolved upon them the duty of 
paying the last tribute to his valour and merit. 

The following letter of Lieutenant Watson contains a de- 
tailed account of the action between the Argus and the 
Pelican. 

Norfolk, March 2, 1815. 

Sir — Circumstances during my residence in England hav- 
ing heretofore prevented jny attention to the painful duty 
which devolved on me by the death of my gallant com- 
mander, Capt. Wm. H. Allen, of the late U. S. brig Argus, 
I have now the honour to state for your information, that 
having landed the Minister Plenipotentiary (Mr. Crawford) 
and suite at L'Orient, we proceeded on the cruise which 
had been directed by the department, and after capturing 
twenty vessels (a list of the names and other particulars of 
which I have the honour to enclose,) being in lat. 52° 15' N. 
long. 5. 50' W., on the 14th August, 1813, we discovered, 
at 4 o'clock A. M., a large brig-of-war standing down under 
a press of sail upon our weather-quarter, the wind being at 
south, and the Argus close hauled on the starboard tack : 
we immediately prepared to receive her ; and at 30 minutes 
after 4, being unable to get the weather-gage, we shortened 
sail, and gave her an opportunity of closing. At 6, the brig 
having displayed English colours, we hoisted our flag ; wore 
round, and gave her the larboard broadside (being at this 
time within grape distance) which was returned, and the 
action commenced within the range of musketry. At 4 
minutes after 6, Captain Allen was wounded, and the enemy 
shot away our main-braces, main spring-stay, gaif, and try- 
sail-mast. At 8 minutes after 6, Captain Allen, being much 
exhausted by the loss of blood, was taken below. At 12 
minutes after 6, lost our spritsail-yard and the principal 
part of the standing rigging on the larboard side of the fore- 
mast. At this time I received a wound on the head from a 
grape-shot, which for a time rendered me incapable of at- 
tending to duty, and was carried below ; I had, however, 
the satisfaction of recollecting on my recovery, that nothing 



190 DETAILS OF THE ACTION. 

which the most gallant exertions could effect, would be left 
undone by Lieut. W. H. Allen, jun., who succeeded to the 
command of the deck. 

Lieut. Allen reports, at 14 minutes after 6, the enemy, 
being in our weather-quarter, edged off, for the purpose of 
getting under our stern, but the Argus luffed close to, with 
the main-topsail aback, and giving him a raking broadside, 
frustrated his attempt. At 18 minutes after 6, the enemy 
shot away our preventer, main-braces and main-topsail-tye ; 
and the Argus having lost the use of her after-sails, fell on 
before the wind, when the enemy succeeded in passing our 
stern, and ranged on the starboard side. At 25 minutes 
after 6, the wheel-ropes and running-rigging of every de- 
scription being shot away, the Argus became unmanageable ; 
and the enemy, not having sustained any apparent damage, 
had it completely in his power to choose a position, and con- 
tinued to play upon our starboard-quarter, occasionally 
shifting his situation, until 30 minutes after 6, when I re- 
turned to the deck, the enemy being under our stern, within 
pistol-shot, where she continued to rake us until 38 minutes 
after 6, when we prepared to board, but, in consequence of 
our shattered condition, were unable to effect it ; the enemy 
then passed our broadside, and took a position on our star- 
board-bow. From this time until 47 minutes after 6, we 
were exposed to a cross or raking fire, without being able 
to oppose but little more than musketry to the broadside of 
the enemy, our guns being much disabled and seldom brought 
to bear. 

The Argus having now suffered much, in hull and rigging, 
as also in killed and wounded, among the former of whom 
(exclusive of our gallant captain) we have to lament the 
loss of two meritorious young officers in Midshipmen Del- 
phy and Edwards ; and being exposed to a galling fire, 
which, from the enemy's ability to manage his vessel, we 
could not avoid, I deemed it necessary to surrender, and 
was taken possession of by his Britannic Majesty's sloop 
the Pelican, of twenty-one carriage guns, viz. sixteen 32- 



ENTERPRISE AND BOXER. 191 

pound carronades, four long G's, and one 12-pound carron- 
ade. I hope this measure will meet your approbation, and 
that the result of this action, when the superior size and 
metal of our opponent, and the fatigue which the crew, &c. 
of the Argus underwent from a very rapid succession of 
captures, is considered, will not be thought unworthy of the 
flag under which we serve. 

I have the honour to enclose a list of killed and wounded, 
and feel great satisfaction in reporting the general good con- 
duct of the meritorious officers engaged on this occasion, 
and particularly the zeal and activity displayed by I^ieut. 
Allen, who you will observe for a time commanded on deck. 

I have the honour to be. Sir, with great respect, 
your obedient servant, 
Hon. B. Crowninshield, W. H. WATSON, 

Sec'y of the J\'avy. Late of the U. S. brig Argus. 

Here follows the list of killed and wounded. Killed in 
the action, 6. Died of their wounds, 5, including the Cap- 
tain. Wounded, 12, 

On the 1st of September, the brig Enterprise, of 16 guns, 
commanded by Lieutenant Wm. Burrows, sailed from Ports- 
mouth on a cruise. On the 5th, early in the morning, they 
espied a brig in-shore getting under way. They reconnoi- 
tred her for a while, to ascertain her character, of which 
they were soon informed by her hoisting three British en- 
signs, and firing a shot as a challenge. The Enterprise 
then hauled upon a wind, stood out of the bay, and prepared 
for action. A calm for some time delayed the encounter ; 
it was succeeded by a breeze from the S. W., which gave 
our vessel the weather-gage. After manoeuvring for a while 
to the windward in order to try her sailing with the enemy, 
and to ascertain his force, the Enterprise, about 3 P. M., 
shortened sail, hoisted three ensigns, fired a gun, tacked, and 
ran down with an intention to bring him to close quarters. 
When within half pistol-shot the enemy gave three cheers, 
and commenced the action with his starboard broadside. 
The cheers and the broadside were returned on our part, 



192 THE BOXER SURRENDERS. 

and the action became general. In about five minutes after 
the battle had commenced, the gallant Burrows received a 
musket-ball in his body, and fell ; he however refused to be 
carried below, but continued on deck through the action. 
The active command was then taken by Lieutenant M'Call, 
who conducted himself with great skill and coolness. The 
enemy was outmanoeuvred and cut up : his main-topmast 
and topsail-yard shot away ; a position gained on his star- 
board-bow, and a raking fire kept up, until his guns were 
silenced and he cried for quarters, saying that as his colours 
were nailed to the mast he could not haul them down. The 
prize proved to be his Britannic Majesty's brig Boxer, of 14 
guns. The number of her crew is a matter of conjecture 
and dispute. Sixty -four prisoners were taken, seventeen of 
whom were wounded. How many of the dead were thrown 
into the sea during the action it is impossible to say ;* the 
British return only four as killed ; courtesy forbids us to 
question the veracity of an officer on mere presumption ; 
but it is ever the natural wish of the vanquished to depre- 
ciate their force ; and, in truth, we have seen with regret 
various instances of disingenuousness on the part of the 
enemy, in their statements of our naval encounters. But 
we will not enter into disputes of this kind. It is enough 
that the enemy entered into the battle with a bravado at 
the mast-head, and a confidence of success ; this either im- 
plied a consciousness of his own force, or a low opinion of 
his antagonist ; in either case he was mistaken. It is a 
fruitless task to vindicate victories against the excuses of 
the vanquished — sufficient for the victor is the joy of his 
triumph : he should allow the enemy the consolation of ac- 
counting for it. 

*In a letter from Captain Hull to Commodore Bainbridge he describes 
the state of the Boxer when brougfht into port : and observes, " We find 
it impossible to get at the number of killed ; no papers are found by which 
we can ascertain it. I, however, counted ninety hammocks which were 
in her netting with beds in them, besides several beds without hammocks; 
and she had excellent accommodations for all her officers below in state- 
rooms, so that I have no doubt that she had one hundred men on board." 



DEATH OF BURROWS. 193 

We turn gladly from such an idle discussion to notice the 
last moments of the worthy Burrows. There needs no ela- 
borate pencil to impart pathos and grandeur to the death of 
a brave man. The simple anecdotes given in simple terms 
by his surviving comrades, present more striking pictures, 
than could be wrought up by the most refined attempts of 
art. " At 20 minutes past three P. M." says one account, 
" our brave commander fell, and while lying on the deck, 
refusing to be carried below, raised his head and requested 
that the Jlag might never he struck." In this situation he 
remained during the rest of the engagement, regardless of 
bodily pain ; regardless of the life-blood fast ebbing from 
his wound ; watching with anxious eye the vicissitudes of 
battle ; cheering his men by his voice, but animating them 
still more by his glorious example. When the sword of the 
vanquished enemy was presented to him, we are told that 
he clasped his hands and exclaimed, " I am satisfied, I die 
contented !" He now permitted himself to be carried be- 
low, and the necessary attentions were paid to save his life, 
or alleviate his sufferings. His wound, however, was be- 
yond the power of surgery, and he breathed his last within 
a few hours after the victory. 

The commander of the Boxer, Captain Samuel Blythe, 
was killed early in the action by a cannon-ball ; had he 
lived he might have defended his ship more desperately, but 
it is not probable with more success. He was an officer of 
distinguished merit ; having received a sword from govern- 
ment for his good conduct under Sir James L. Yeo, in the 
capture of Cayenne. He was also one of the pall-bearers 
to our lamented Lawrence, when buried at Halifax. It was 
his fate now to receive like courtesy at the hands of his 
enemy. His remains, in company with those of the brave 
Burrows, were brought to Portland, where they were inter- 
red with military honours. It was a striking and affecting 
sight, to behold two gallant commanders, who had lately 
been arrayed in deadly hostility against each other, descend- 
ing into one quiet grave, there to mingle their dust peace- 
fully together. 

17 ^ 





CHAPTER XV. 

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie. 

H E brilliant victory on Lake Erie 
forms one of the proudest ornaments 
of our naval history. It is full of in- 
struction to all who are willing to de- 
rive benefit from examples of success 
resulting from courage, coolness and 
enterprise. It is not saying too much 
to declare that this victory, like that 
of Paul Jones over the Serapis, was 
the result of the decision and valour 
of the commanding officer. Commo- 
dore Perry was at this time a young 
man, only 27 years of age, and his 
^^^ extreme youth at the time of his serv- 
ing as midshipman in the Tripolitan war had prevented his 
ever having an opportunity to distinguish himself in the 
service. 

(194) 



CAPTAIN PERRY. 195 

At the beginning of 1812 he had been promoted to the 
rank of master and commander, and ordered to the com- 
mand of the flotilla of gun-boats stationed at the harbour 
of New- York. He remained on this station about a year ; 
during which time he employed himself diligently in discip- 
lining his crew to serve either as landsmen or mariners ; 
and brought his flotilla into an admirable state of prepara- 
tion for active operations. 

The gun-boat service, however, was at best but an irksome 
employ. Nothing could be more dispiriting for ardent and 
daring minds than to be obliged to skulk about harbours 
and rivers, cramped up in these diminutive vessels, without 
the hope of exploit to atone for present inconvenience. 
Perry soon grew tired of this inglorious service, and applied 
to the Secretary of the Navy to be ordered to a more active 
station, and mentioned the Lakes as the one he should pre- 
fer. His request was immediately complied with, and he 
received orders to repair to Sackett's Harbour, Lake Onta- 
rio, with a body of mariners to reinforce the squadron under 
Commodore Chauncey. So popular was he among the ho- 
nest tars under his command, that no sooner was the order 
known than nearly the whole of the crews volunteered to 
accompany him. 

In a few days he was ready to depart, and tearing him- 
self from the comforts of home, and the endearments of a 
young and beautiful wife and blooming child, he set oflT at 
the head of a large number of chosen seamen, on his expe- 
dition to the wilderness. The rivers being completely frozen 
over, they were obliged to perform the journey by land, in 
the depth of winter. The greatest order and good humour, 
however, prevailed throughout the little band of adven- 
turers, to whom the whole expedition seemed a kind of fro- 
lic, and who were delighted with what they termed a land 
cruise. 

Not long after the arrival of Perry at Sackett's Harbour, 
Commodore Chauncey, who entertained a proper opinion of 
his merits, detached him to Lake Erie, to take command of 



196 AFFAIRS ON LAKE ERIE. 

the squadron on that station, and to superintend the building 
of additional vessels. The American force at that time on 
the Lake consisted but of several small vessels ; two of the 
best of which had recently been captured from the enemy 
in a gallant style by Captain Elliot, from under the very 
batteries of Maiden. The British force was greatly supe- 
rior, and commanded by Commodore Barclay, an able and 
well-tried officer. Commodore Perry immediately applied 
himself to increase his armament, and having ship carpenters 
from the Atlantic coast, and using extraordinary exertions, 
two brigs of twenty guns each were soon launched at Erie, 
the American port on the Lake. 

While the vessels were constructing, the British squadron 
hovered off the harbour, but offered no molestation. At 
length, his vessels being equipped and manned, on the fourth 
of August Commodore Perry succeeded in getting his squad- 
ron over the bar at the mouth of the harbour. The water 
on the bar was but five feet deep, and the large vessels had 
to be buoyed over : this was accomplished in the face of the 
British, who fortunately did not think proper to make an 
attack. The next day he sailed in pursuit of the enemy, 
but returned on the eighth, without having encountered 
him. Being reinforced by the arrival of Elliot, accompa- 
nied by several officers and eighty-nine sailors, he was ena- 
bled completely to man his squadron, and again set sail on 
the twelfth, in quest of the enemy. On the fifteenth he 
arrived at Sandusky Bay, where the American army under 
General Harrison lay encamped. From thence he cruised 
off Maiden, where the British squadron remained at anchor, 
under the guns of the fort. The appearance of Perry's 
squadron spread great alarm on shore ; the women and chil- 
dren ran shrieking about the place, expecting an immediate 
attack. The Indians, we are told, looked on with astonish- 
ment, and urged the British to go out and fight. Finding 
the enemy not disposed to venture a battle, Commodore 
Perry returned to Sandusky. 

Nothing of moment happened until the morning of the 



NAVAL FORCES ON LAKE ERIE. 197 

tenth of September. The American squadron was, at that 
time, lying at anchor in Put-in-Bay, and consisted of 

Brig Lawrence, Com. Perry, 20 guns. 

" Niagara, Capt. Elliot, 20 

" Caledonia, Purser M'Grath, 3 

Sch. Ariel, Lieut. Packet, 4 

" Scorpion, Sailing-Master Champlin, 2 

" Somers, " Almy, . . . 2 and 2 swivels 

" Tigress, Lieutenant Conklin, .... 1 

" Porcupine, Mid. G, Senat, 1 

Sloop Trippe, Lieutenant Smith, 1 

54 guns. 
At sunrise they discovered the enemy, and immediately 
got under way and stood for him with a light wind at south- 
west. The British force consisted of 

Ship Detroit, 19 guns, 1 on pivot, and 2 

howitzers. 

Queen Charlotte, .... 17 1 on pivot, 

Sch. Lady Prevost, 13 1 do. 

Brig Hunter, 10 

Sloop Little Belt, 3 

Sch. Chippeway, 1 2 swivels. 

63 guns. 

At 10 A. M. the wind hauled to the southeast and brought 
our squadron to windward. Commodore Perry then hoisted 
his union-jack, having for a motto, the dying words of the 
valiant Lawrence, " Don't give up the ship !" It was re- 
ceived with repeated cheerings by the officers and crews. 
And now having formed his line he bore for the enemy ; 
who likewise cleared for action, and hauled up his courses. 
It is deeply interesting to picture to ourselves the advances 
of these gallant and well-matched squadrons to a contest, 
where the strife must be obstinate and sanguinary, and the 
event decisive of the fate of almost an empire. 

The lightness of the wind occasioned them to approach 
each other but slowly, and prolonged the awful interval of 
17* 



198 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 

suspense and anxiety that precedes a battle. This is the 
time when the stoutest heart beats quick, " and the boldest 
holds his breath ;" it is the still moment of direful expecta- 
tion ; of fearful looking out for slaughter and destruction ; 
when even the glow of pride and ambition is chilled for a 
while, and nature shudders at the awful jeopardy of exist- 
ence. The very order and regularity of naval discipline 
heighten the dreadful quiet of the moment. No bustle, no 
noise prevails to distract the mind, except at intervals the 
shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring 
whisper among the men, who, grouped around their guns, 
earnestly regard the movements of the foe, now and then 
stealing a wistful glance at the countenances of their com- 
manders. In this manner did the hostile squadrons ap- 
proach each other, in mute watchfulness and terrible tran- 
quillity ; when suddenly a bugle was sounded from on board 
the enemy's ship Detroit, and loud huzzas immediately burst 
forth from all their crews. 

No sooner did the Lawrence come within reach of the 
enemies' long guns, than they opened a heavy fire upon her, 
which, from the shortness of her guns, she was unable to 
return. Commodore Perry, without waiting for his schoon- 
ers, kept on his course in such gallant and determined style 
that the enemy supposed it was his intention to board. In 
a few minutes, having gained a nearer position, he opened 
his fire. The length of the enemies' guns, however, gave 
them vastly the advantage, and the Lawrence was exces- 
sively cut up without being able to do any great damage in 
return. Their shot pierced her sides in all directions, kill- 
ing our men on the berth-deck and in the steerage, where 
they had been taken down to be dressed. One shot had 
nearly produced a fatal explosion ; passing through the 
light-room it knocked the snuff of the candle into the maga- 
zine ; fortunately the gunner happened to see it, and had 
the presence of mind to extinguish it immediately with his 
hand. 

Indeed, it seemed to be the enemies' plan to destroy the 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 199 

commodore's ship, and thus throw the squadron into confu- 
sion. For this purpose their heaviest fire was directed at 
the Lawrence, and blazed incessantly upon it from their 
largest vessels. Finding the hazard of his situation, Perry 
made sail, and directed the other vessels to follow for the 
purpose of closing with the foe. " The order was responded 
to," says Mackenzie in his Life of Perry, " and transmitted 
along the line by Captain Elliot, of the Niagara, whose 
vessel was stationed next but one astern of the Lawrence, 
and was, therefore, at the commencement of the action, 
quite near the commodore, and in a position to accompany 
him in closing with the enemy. The Niagara did not, how- 
ever, make sail with the Lawrence, and accompany her 
down into close action, but continued at long-shots, using 
only her twelve-pounder." 

Subsequently " the Niagara," says the same respectable 
authority, " got embarrassed with the Caledonia, instead of 
passing astern and to leeward of her to close with the 
Queen Charlotte, which was next to the Hunter. Captain 
Elliot hailed the Caledonia, and ordered Lieutenant D. 
Turner to bear up and make room for him to pass. Though 
this officer was in the station assigned to him astern of the 
Lawrence, and pressing down to engage his antagonist, the 
brig Hunter, yet he obeyed the order of his superior, with- 
out stopping to inquire whether that superior, as a subordi- 
nate like himself, had a right to give an order involving a 
change in the order of battle. Lieutenant Turner at once 
put his helm up, and made room for the Niagara by bearing 
down towards the enemy. Captain Elliot did not, how- 
ever, follow in the Niagara, but sheered to windward, and, 
by brailing up his jib and backing his main-topsail, bal- 
anced the efforts of his sails so as to keep his vessel station- 
ary, and prevent her approaching the enemy. The Niagara 
did not, therefore, approach the enemy's line near enough 
to use her carronades, but remained at long-shots, firing 
only her long twelve-pounder, doing little injury, and receiv- 



200 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 

ing less from casual shots aimed at the Lawrence and Cale- 
donia, of which she was partially under cover." 

The tremendous fire to which the Lawrence was exposed, 
soon cut away every brace and bowline, and she became 
unmanageable. Even in this disastrous plight she sustained 
the action for upwards of two hours, within canister dis- 
tance, though for a great part of the time she could not get 
more than three guns to bear upon her antagonists. It was 
admirable to behold the perfect order and regularity that 
prevailed among her valiant and devoted crew, throughout 
this scene of horror. No trepidation, no confusion occur- 
red, even for an instant ; as fast as the men were wounded 
they were carried below and others stept into their places ; 
the dead remained where they fell until after the action. 
At this juncture the fortune of the battle trembled on a 
point, and the enemy believed the day their own. The 
Lawrence was reduced to a mere wreck ; her decks were 
streaming with blood, and covered with mangled limbs and 
the bodies of the slain ; neai'ly the whole of her crew was 
either killed or wounded ; her guns were dismounted, and 
the commodore and his officers helped to work the last that 
was capable of service. 

Amidst all this peril and disaster, the youthful commander 
is said to have remained perfectly composed, maintaining a 
serene and cheerful countenance, uttering no passionate or 
agitated expression, giving out his orders with calmness and 
deliberation, and inspiriting every one around him by his 
magnanimous demeanour. 

At this crisis, finding the Lawrence was incapable of fur- 
ther service, and seeing the hazardous situation of the con- 
flict, he formed the bold resolution of shifting his flag. 
Giving the ship, therefore, in charge to Lieutenant Yarnall, 
who had already distinguished himself by his bravery, he 
hauled down his union, bearing the motto of Lawrence, and 
taking it under his arm, ordered to be put on board of the 
Niagara. In leaving the Lawrence, he gave his pilot the 
choice either to remain on board, or accompany him ; the 




2 A 



(201) 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 203 

faithful fellow told him " he'd stick by him to the last," 
and jumped into the boat. He went off from the ship 
in his usual gallant manner, standing up in the stern of 
the boat, until the crew absolutely pulled him down 
among them. Broadsides were levelled at him, and small- 
arms discharged by the enemy, two of whose vessels were 
within musket-shot, and a third one nearer. His brave 
shipmates who remained behind, stood watching him in 
breathless anxiety ; the balls struck around him and flew 
over his head in every direction ; but the same special 
providence that seems to have watched over the youthful 
hero throughout this desperate battle, conducted him safely 
through a shower of shot, and they beheld with transport 
his inspiring flag hoisted at the mast-head of the Niagara. 
No sooner was he on board than Captain Elliot volun- 
teered to put off" in a boat and bring into action the schoon- 
ers which had been kept astern by the lightness of the 
wind ; the offer was accepted, and Elliot left the Niagara 
to put it in execution. 

About this time the commodore saw, with infinite regret, 
the flag of the Lawrence come down. The event was una- 
voidable ; she had sustained the whole fury of the enemy, 
and was rendered incapable of defence ; any further show 
of resistance would but have been most uselessly and cru- 
elly to have provoked carnage among the relics of her brave 
and mangled crew. The enemy, however, were not able 
to take possession of her, and subsequent circumstances 
enabled her again to hoist her flag. 

Commodore Perry now made signal for close action, and 
the small vessels got out their sweeps and made all sail. 
Finding that the Niagara was but little injured, he deter- 
mined, if possible, to break the enemy's line. He accord- 
ingly bore up and passed ahead of the two ships and brig, 
giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, and also 
to a large schooner and sloop from his larboard side at half- 
pistol-shot. Having passed the whole squadron, he luffed 
up and laid his ship alongside the British commodore. The 



204 THE BRITISH SURRENDER. 

smaller vessels under the direction of Captain Elliot having, 
in the mean time, got within grape and canister distance, 
and keeping up a well-directed fire, the. whole of the enemy 
struck excepting two small vessels which attempted to 
escape, but were taken. 

The engagement lasted about three hours, and never was 
victory more decisive and complete. The captured squad- 
ron, as has been shown, exceeded ours in weight of metal 
and number of guns. Their crews were also more nume- 
rous ; ours were a motley collection, where there were some 
good seamen, but eked out with soldiers, volunteers and 
boys, and many were on the sick list. More prisoners were 
taken than we had men to guard. The loss on both sides 
was severe. Scarcely any of the Lawrence's crew escaped 
unhurt. Among those slain was Lieutenant Brooks of the 
marines, a gay and elegant young officer, full of spirit, of 
amiable manners, and remarkable for his personal beauty. 
Lieutenant Yarnall, though repeatedly wounded, refused to 
quit the deck during the whole of the action. Commodore 
Perry, notwithstanding that he was continually in the most 
exposed situations of the battle, escaped uninjured ; he wore 
an ordinary seaman's dress, which, perhaps, prevented him 
from being picked off by the enemies' sharp-shooters. He 
had a younger brother with him on board the Lawrence as 
midshipman, who was equally fortunate in receiving no 
injury, though his shipmates fell all round him. Two Indian 
chiefs had been stationed in the tops of the Detroit to shoot 
down our officers, but when the action became warm, so 
panic-struck were they with the terrors of the scene, and 
the strange perils that surrounded them, that they fled pre- 
cipitately to the hold of the ship, where they were found 
after the battle in a state of utter consternation. The 
bodies of several other Indians are said to have been found 
the next day on the shores of the lake, supposed to have 
been slain during the engagement and thrown overboard. 

It is impossible to state the number of killed on board the 
enemy. It must, however, have been very great, as their 



INFERENCES FROM THE BATTLE. 205 

vessels were literally cut to pieces ; and the masts of their 
two principal ships so shattered that the first gale blew them 
overboard. Commodore Barclay, the British commander, 
certainly did himself honour by the brave and obstinate 
resistance which he made. He was a fine-looking officer, 
of about thirty-six years of age. He had seen much ser- 
vice, having been desperately wounded in the battle of Tra- 
falgar, and afterwards losing an arm in another engagement 
with the French. In the present battle he was twice car- 
ried below on account of his wounds. While below the 
second time, his officer came down and told him that they 
must strike, as the ships were cut to pieces, and the men 
could not be kept to their guns. Commodore Barclay was 
then carried on deck, and after taking a view of their situ- 
ation, and finding all chance of success was over, reluctantly 
gave orders to strike. 

In this battle, we trust, incontrovertible proof is given, 
if such proof were really wanted, that the success of our 
navy does not arise from chance, or superiority of force ; 
but from the cool, deliberate courage, the intelligent minds 
and naval skill of our officers, the spirit of our seamen, and 
the excellent discipline of our ships ; from principles, in 
short, which must insure a frequency of prosperous results, 
and give permanency to the reputation we have acquired. 
We have been rapidly adding trophy to trophy, and succes- 
sively driving the enemy from every excuse in which he 
sought to shelter himself from the humiliation of defeat ; 
and after having perfectly established our capability of 
fighting and conquering in single ships, we have now gone 
further, and shown that it is possible for us to face the foe 
in squadron, and vanquish him even though superior in force. 

In casting our eye over the details of this engagement, 
we are struck with the prominent part which the com- 
mander takes in the contest. We realize in his dauntless 
exposure and individual prowess, what we have read in 
heroic story, of the warrior, streaming like a meteor through 
the fight, and working wonders with his single arm. The 
18 



206 CONDUCT OF PERRY. 

fate of the combat seemed to rest upon his sword ; he was 
the master-spirit that directed the storm of battle, moving 
amid flames, and smoke, and death, and mingling wherever 
the struggle was most desperate and deadly. After sus- 
taining in the Lawrence the whole blaze of the enemy's 
cannonry ; after fighting until all around him was wreck 
and carnage ; we behold him, looking forth from his shat- 
tered deck, with unruffled countenance, on the direful perils 
that environed him, calculating with wary eye the chances 
of the battle, and suddenly launching forth on the bosom 
of the deep, to shift his flag on board another ship, then un- 
injured and ready for action. This was one of those master- 
strokes by which great events are achieved, and great char- 
acters stamped, as it were, at a single blow — which bespeak 
the rare combination of the genius to conceive, the prompt- 
ness to decide, and the boldness to execute. Most com- 
manders have such glorious chances for renown, some time 
or another, within their reach ; but it requires the nerve of 
a hero to grasp the perilous opportunity. We behold Perry 
following up his daring movement with sustained energy — 
dashing into the squadron of the enemy — breaking their 
line — raking starboard and larboard — and in this brilliant 
style achieving a consummate victory. 

But if we admire his presence of mind and dauntless 
valour in the hour of danger, we are no less delighted with 
his modesty and self-command amidst the flush of triumph. 
A courageous heart may carry a man stoutly through the 
battle, but it argues some strong qualities of head to drain 
unmoved the intoxicating cup of victory. The first care 
of Perry was to attend to the comfort of the suffering crews 
of both squadrons. The sick and wounded were landed as 
soon as possible, and every means taken to alleviate the 
miseries of their situation. The officers who had fallen, on 
both sides, were buried on Sunday morning, on an island in 
the lake, with the honours of war. To the surviving officers 
he advanced a loan of one thousand dollars, out of his own 
limited purse — but, in short, his behaviour in this respect is 



PERRY'S LETTERS. 207 

best expressed in the words of Commodore Barclay, who, 
with generous warmth and frankness, declared that " the 
conduct of Perry towards the captive officers and men was 
sufficient, of itself, to immortalize him !" 

The letters which he wrote announcing the intelligence 
were remarkably simple and laconic. To the Secretary of 
the Navy he observes, " It has pleased the Almighty to give 
to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their 
enemies on this lake. The British squadron, consisting of 
two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop, have this 
moment surrendered to the force under my command, after 
a sharp conflict." This has been called an imitation of 
Nelson's letter after the battle of the Nile ; but it was 
choosing a noble precedent, and the important national 
results of the victory justified the language. Independent 
of the vast accession of glory to our flag, this conquest 
insured the capture of Detroit — the rout of the British 
armies — the subjugation of the whole peninsula of Upper 
Canada, and, if properly followed up, the triumphant suc- 
cess of our northern war. Well might he say " it has 
pleased the Almighty," when, by this achievement, he be- 
held immediate tranquillity restored to an immense extent 
of country. Mothers no longer shrunk aghast, and clasped 
their infants to their breasts, when they heard the shaking 
of the forest or the howling of the blast — the aged sire no 
longer dreaded the shades of night, lest ruin should burst 
upon him in the hour of repose, and his cottage be laid 
desolate by the firebrand and the scalping-knife — Michigan 
was rescued from the dominion of the sword, and quiet and 
security once more settled on the harassed frontiers, from 
Huron to Niagara. 

But we are particularly pleased with his subsequent let- 
ter giving the particulars of the battle. It is so chaste, so 
moderate and perspicuous ; equally free from vaunting ex- 
ultation and affected modesty ; neither obtruding himself 
upon notice, nor pretending to keep out of sight. His own 
individual services may be gathered from the letter, though 



208 ELLIOT'S CONDUCT. 

not expressly mentioned ; indeed, where the fortune of the 
day depended so materially upon himself, it was impossible 
to give a faithful narrative without rendering himself con- 
spicuous.* 

The following letter to General Harrison, announcing the 
victory, is not less celebrated than the first which the com- 
modore wrote to the Secretary of the Navy. 

"Dear General, — We have met the enemy, and they 
are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one 
sloop. Yours, with great respect and esteem, 

O. H. Perry." 

It is not proper to conclude the account of this victory 
without noticing the extraordinary conduct of Captain El- 
liot. Affidavits published since the action have established 
the fact that he kept almost, if not entirely, out of reach of 
the enemy's shot, until Commodore Perry boarded the Nia- 
gara, and brought her up to the line of the British ships. 
Commodore Perry disapproved of this conduct at the time, 
but was unwilling to injure the reputation of Captain Elliot 
by characterizing it, as he might justly have done, in his 
official report. Indeed, in this report, and in his conversa- 
tions with the officers of the fleet and of General Harrison's 
army, he appears to have done all in his power to screen 
Captain Elliot from censure. 

At a subsequent period, the honour of this victory was 
claimed for Captain Elliot, and a controversy on the sub- 
ject ensued, which led to much discussion, and several 
publications. Different views of the matter have been 
entertained by different historians. Some follow the ori- 
ginal official report of Commodore Perry ; and others take 
up all that has been written upon the subject by the dis- 
putants, and endeavour to strike a balance of probabilities. 
The latter course appears to us to be the proper one. It 
is that which has been followed by Lieutenant Slidell 
Mackenzie, who has placed the claims of Commodore Perry 



*Analectic Magazine. 



AFFIDAVITS. 2Cl9 

upon an immoveable foundation, so that this commander 
will in all future time be recognized (as he now is by his 
brother officers of the navy), as the true Hero of Lake 
Erie. 

The following affidavits, selected from a large number 
given in the Appendix to Mackenzie's Life of Perry, will 
show the reader the species of evidence on which his con- 
clusions rest. 

Copy of Dr. Parson's Affidavit. 

In the action of the 10th September, 1813, on Lake Erie, 
I was stationed in the wardroom of the Lawrence to act as 
surgeon. I well recollect that the wounded, from the first 
of their coming down, complained that the Niagara (com- 
manded by Captain Elliot) did not come up to her station, 
and close with the Queen Charlotte, although he had been 
ordered by signal; and this complaint was frequently re- 
peated by them till the Lawrence struck, and repeatedly by 
Lieutenants Brooks, Yarnall, and Claxton. It was at the 
same time observed that the Caledonia was in close action, 
while the Niagara, a faster sailer, was quite out of the 
reach of the enemy. After the action closed, the censures 
upon Captain Elliot's conduct were so general and severe, 
not only among the Lawrence's officers, but those of the 
small vessels, that, in writing to my friends the day follow- 
ing, I did not hesitate to say that Captain Elliot had dis- 
graced himself in the action ; and the same sentiment was 
expressed in the letters of every officer on board who was 
able to write. These letters were on the point of being 
sent, when Mr. Hambleton, who had just had a private 
interview with Commodore Perry, told us the commodore 
wished us to be silent on Captain Elliot's conduct ; that, 
whatever might have been the appearances during the 
action, he was then unwilling, after its happy result, to 
destroy an officer of his rank ; and that honour enough had 
been gained by the action to permit of its being shared by 
every one engaged in it. 

This request of Commodore Perry was complied with as 



210 AFFIDAVITS. 

far as was practicable ; one of Mr. Yarnall's letters, how- 
ever, had slipped from his hands before this message was 
received, and was published. 

The second day after the action I attended the wounded 
of the Niagara (the surgeon of that vessel having been sick), 
and out of twenty cases, not more than one or two said 
they were wounded while Captain Elliot was on board the 
ship. On board all the small vessels, which Captain Elliot 
brought up towards the close of the action, the number of 
killed and wounded did not exceed two or three. The num- 
ber of killed and wounded on board the Lawrence, before 
she struck, was eighty-three. 

In conversation with two officers of the Queen Charlotte 
a short time after the action, I asked them why the Queen 
directed her fire wholly upon the Lawrence instead of the 
Niagara. He replied, " Because the Niagara was so far off 
we could not injure her." 

From all these facts, and others, the oflficers of the Law- 
rence and of some of the other vessels felt exceedingly dis- 
appointed and displeased with the official report of Commo- 
dore Perry, on account of the honourable mention there 
made of Captain Elliot. fVe have, nevertheless, been will- 
ing to believe that the error proceeded from the best motives. 

Midshipman Lenox, who commanded one of the small 
vessels, has repeatedly told me that Captain Elliot had said, 
in his presence, in Buffalo, that he regretted he did not 
sacrifice the fleet when it was in his power, and Captain 
Perry with it. Usher Parsons. 

Sworn to before me, 

Holmes Weaver, Just. Peace. 



Copy of the Affidavit of Lieutenant Thomas Holdup Stevens, 
commanding U. S. sloop Tinppe in the action of lOth Sep- 
tember, 1813. 

When the American squadron had approached the enemy 
within about a mile, and the enemy had commenced firing, 
the signal was made by Commodore Perry to " engage as 



AFFIDAVITS. 211 

you come up, every one against his opponent, in the line as 
before designated ;^^ agreeably to this signal, the situation 
of the Niagara should have been abreast of the Queen 
Charlotte, and within half a cable's length. The Laivrence 
went gallantly into close action, and her example was fol- 
lowed by the Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner ; but the Nia- 
gara continued to hug the wind, and remained in the posi- 
tion she had taken at the commencement of the action till 
a few moments previous to Commodore Perry's boarding 
her. There could not be any rational object in the Niaga- 
ra's keeping at long-shot with the Queen Charlotte, as the 
amount and description of their force was equal, and, being 
principally carronades, no effect could be made by them at 
the distance Captain Elliot kept his ship. From the num- 
ber of light sails the Niagara had, and there being a lead- 
ing wind, Captain Elliot might at any period of the action 
have closed with the enemy, and relieved the Lawrence 
from the dreadful and destructive fire kept up upon her from 
the united forces of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte. 

It was the general opinion of the officers and men of the 
squadron, that Captain Elliot did not do his duty in the 
action of the 10th of September; and that, had he been 
impelled by a becoming bravery, he would have made 
greater exertions to have taken an active part in the fight. 
Great irritation was produced in the fleet in consequence 
of it, and this opinion continued to be freely expressed till 
it was made known that Commodore Perry was desirous of 
protecting Captain Elliot from the effects of such reports. 
Every exertion was made by Commodore Perry to screen 
Captain Elliot from the injurious impressions made by his 
conduct ; but the volunteers in the fleet did not pay the 
same regard to Commodore Perry's wishes as was done by 
the officers ; and many of them, having witnessed the con- 
duct of Captain Elliot, gave full expression to their feelings 
and opinions respecting him. 

It was a received opinion in the fleet, that, previous to 
Commodore Perry's going on board the Niagara, she had 



212 AFFIDAVITS. 

but one man wounded, and that her opponent, the Queen 
Charlotte, from the account of the British officers, had suf- 
fered but very slightly previous to being engaged in close 
action with Commodore Perry. 

When the action closed. Captain Elliot was on board the 
Somers, and the accounts from that vessel were very unfa- 
vourable to Captain Elliot's bravery, as it was reported he 
beat the captain of the gun very severely with a speaking- 
trumpet for having laughed at his dodging a shot which 
passed over him from the enemy. 

Signed, Thos. Holdup Stevens. 



Washington, January 29th, 1821. 

Sir, — To bear testimony against the character of a bro- 
ther officer is no pleasing task ; but there is a paramount 
obligation that we all owe to our country, which cannot be 
overlooked but with the implication of personal honour, and 
to the supremacy of which all private friendship and per- 
sonal respect must be compelled to bow. 

Uninfluenced by other motives, I do now most willingly 
(but with regret for the occasion) offer my testimony with 
regard to the conduct of Captain Jesse D. Elliot, on the 
10th day of September, 1813, during the action with the 
enemy's squadron on Lake Erie. I was the second lieu- 
tenant of the brig Lawrence, Commodore Perry's flag-ves- 
sel, at the time and on the occasion alluded to. I was the 
officer of the watch at the moment the enemy Was first seen 
on that day, and reported them to Commodore Perry, when 
our squadron immediately got under weigh and worked out 
of the bay ; after we got out, the wind changed in our 
favour, and we ran down to meet the enemy. After the 
commencement of the action. Captain Elliot, in the Niagara, 
instead of keeping on with us, and engaging his opponent 
as directed, put his helm down and sheered to windward 
of the Lawrence, leaving the Lawrence exposed to the fire 
of the enemy's two largest vessels. Some time after the 
Lawrence had been in close action, and much cut up, I said 



AFFIDAVITS. 



213 



to Commodore Perry, " that brig (meaning the Niagara) 
will not help us; see how he keeps off"! he will not come to 
close action." " I'll fetch him up," said Commodore Perry ; 
and immediately ordered his boat. As he left the Law- 
rence, he said, " If a victory is to be gained, I '11 gain it." 
As soon as he got on board the Niagara, she bore up and 
ran down, and in a short time was in close action between 
two of the enemy's largest vessels. I was on deck from 
daylight till after the battle was over ; and I believed at 
the time, and do still most solemnly believe, that Captain 
Jesse D. Elliot was influenced either by cowardice, and 
fear prevented him from closing with the enemy ; or that he 
wished to sacrifice the Lawrence, and then claim the victory 
for himself 

It was my firm belief, at the time Commodore Perry was 
making out his report of the action, and I believe other 
officers were of the same opinion, that Commodore Perry 
endeavoured so to word it as to screen Captain Elliot as 
much as he could, and that this was done solely from feel- 
ings of benevolence. Respectfully, &c. 

DuLANY Forrest, U. S. N. 

M. C. Perry, U. S. N. 




214 



CRUISE OF THE PRESIDENT, 



CHAPTER XVI. 

JVaval Campaign of 1813 concluded. — Commodore Rodgers's 
Cruise. — Operations of Commodore Chauncey on Lake 
Ontario. 




HE U.S. frigate Pre- 
sident, Ck)m. Rod- 
gers, arrived in the 
harbour of Newport, 
on the 26lh of Sep- 
tember, after a cruise 
of more than five 
months. This ship 
left Boston on the 
30th of April, in com- 
pany with the U. 
S. frigate Congress, 
^ from which she sepa- 
^^ rated on the 30th of 
-- the same month. She 
pursued her cour'^e to th" Grand Bank, the Azores, Shet- 
land Isles, and to North Bergen, where she put in for water. 
She left this place on the 2d of July, shaped her course 
towards the Orkney Islands, and from thence to the north 
seas. July 19th, oft' North cape, White sea, was chased 86 
hours by two line-of-battle ships, took a circuit round Ire- 
land, got into the latitude of Cape Clear, proceeded to the 
Grand Banks, and from thence to the United States, 

The following- is the concluding part of the commodore's 
official account. 

" During my cruise, although I have not had it in my 
power to add any additional lustre to the character of our 
little navy, I have nevertheless rendered essential service to 



CRUISE OF THE PRESIDENT. 215 

my country, I hope, by harassing the enemy's commerce, 
and employing to his disadvantage more than a dozen times 
the force of a single frigate. 

My officers and crew have experienced great privations 
since I left the United States, from being nearly five months 
at sea, and living the last three months of that time upon a 
scanty allowance of the roughest fare ; and it is with pecu- 
liar pleasure that I acquaint you, that they are all in better 
health than might be expected, although you may well sup- 
pose that their scanty allowance has not been of any advan- 
tage to their strength or appearance. 

The High Flyer was commanded by Lieut. Hutchinson, 
second of the St. Domingo. She is a remarkably fine vessel 
of her class, sails very fast, and would make an excellent 
light cruiser, provided the government have occasion for a 
vessel of her description. 

Just at the moment of closing my letter, a newspaper 
has been handed me, containing Captain Broke's challenge 
to my late gallant friend, Captain Lawrence, in which he 
mentions, with considerable emphasis, the pains he had 
taken to meet the President and Congress, with the Shannon 
and Tenedos. 

It is unnecessary at present to take further notice of 
Captain Broke's observations, than to say, if that was his 
disposition, his conduct was so glaringly opposite, as to 
authorize a very contrary belief. Relative to Captain Broke, 
I have only further to say, that I hope he has not been so 
severely wounded as to make it a sufficient reason to pre- 
vent his reassuming the command of the Shannon at a future 
day." 

Here follow the names of 1 1 merchantmen, and the High 
Flyer schooner of 5 guns, captured during his cruise. 

The capture of the schooner High Flyer by Commodore 
Rodgers, was very extraordinary. On making the schooner 
to the southward of Nantucket Shoals, she hoisted the pri- 
vate British signal, which was answered by Commodore 
Rodgers, and fortunately proved the private British signal 



216 DECATUR AND DOMINICA. 

of that day. Upon seeing this, the High Flyer came imme- 
diately to him. Commodore Rodgers ordered one of his 
officers to dress in a British uniform, and manned out a boat 
and boarded him. The lieutenant of the schooner did not 
wait to be boarded, but manned his own boat and boarded 
the President, supposing her to be a British frigate. The 
British lieutenant was on board for some time, before he 
discovered his mistake. The officer that boarded the 
schooner from the President, asked the officer left in charge 
of the schooner for his private signals and instructions, 
which were immediately handed to him ; by this stratagem. 
Commodore Rodgers obtained possession of the British pri- 
vate signals, and Admiral Warren's instructions. On exa- 
mining these latter documents, Commodore Rodgers dis- 
covered the number of British squadrons stationed on the 
American coast — their force, and relative position — with 
pointed instructions to all of them, if possible, to capture 
the President. 

After parting company from the President, the Congress 
frigate stood over to the coast of Brazil, in the vicinity of 
which she cruised without success, having captured only 
three vessels. She arrived in the United States on the 14th 
of December, after an uncommonly protracted cruise. 

The enemy's commerce continued, during this year, to 
suffer considerably from the private-armed vessels of the 
United States. Almost every quarter of the globe bore 
witness to their enterprise and intrepidity. In the course 
of their cruises, they frequently encountered the armed ves- 
sels of the enemy, and in many instances displayed a degree 
of valour and seamanship equal to that of the public ves- 
sels. Perhaps no instance in the annals of naval warfare 
can be found, of a more desperate and gallant action than 
that fought by the American privateer schooner Decatur, 
of seven guns, and one hundred and three men, with his 
Britannic majesty's schooner Dominica, of fifteen guns, and 
eighty-eight men. The two vessels encountered on the 15th 
of August, and, after a variety of manoeuvres, and a well- 



AFFAIRS ON ONTARIO. 217 

sustained action of two hours, the Dominica was carried by 
boarding. A desperate combat was maintained on the deck 
of the latter vessel, until the captain and most of her officers 
and crew being disabled, her colours were struck by the 
crew of the Decatur. When the difference in force of the 
two vessels is considered, this action cannot fail to be classed 
among the most brilliant of a war fruitful of naval renown. 

The frigates United States and Macedonian had lain in 
the harbour of New- York, without obtaining an opportu- 
nity to get to sea, until the beginning of the month of May. 
About that period they made an attempt, in company with 
the sloop-of-war Hornet, to pass the blockading squadron, 
lying off the Hook ; but finding this impossible, without 
engaging a superior force, they put back, with the intention 
of passing through the Sound : the vigilance of the enemy, 
however, obliged them to put into the port of New London. 
Here every preparation was made for their defence, in case 
the enemy should make an attempt upon them. A body of 
militia was stationed in the vicinity ; and the vessels were 
lightened, and carried higher up the river. The blockade 
of the port was, however, maintained so strictly, that no 
opportunity offered itself for an escape during the remainder 
of the war. 

The operations of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario 
were not so successful as those of Commodore Perry on 
Lake Erie. In his official letters he complains repeatedly 
of the difficulty which he experienced in bringing his oppo- 
nent, Sir James Lucas Yeo, the British commander on the 
lake, to a decisive action. 

The following extracts from his correspondence with the 
Secretary of the Navy, bring down the history of his 
cruises upon the lakes to the close of the year 1813. 

From Com. Isaac Chauncey to the Secretary of the JVdvy. 

On board the U. S. ship Gen. Pike, off Duck Island, 
* Sept. 13, 1813. 

Sir, — On the 7th, at daylight, the enemy's fleet was dis- 
covered close in with Niagara river, wind from the south- 
19 2 c 



218 LETTER OF COM. CHAUNCEY. 

ward. Made the signal, and weighed with the fleet (pre- 
pared for action) and stood out of the river after him ; he 
immediately made all sail to the northward. We made sail 
in chase with our heavy schooners in tow, and have con- 
tinued the chase all round the lake, night and day, until 
yesterday morning, when she succeeded in getting into 
Amherst Bay, which is so little known to our pilots, and 
said to be full of shoals, that they are not willing to take 
me in there. I shall however (unless driven from my sta- 
tion by a gale of wind) endeavour to watch him so close as 
to prevent his getting out upon the lake. 

During our long chase we frequently got within from one 
to two miles of the enemy, but our heavy-sailing schooners 
prevented our closing with him until the 11th, off Genes- 
see river, we carried a breeze with us while he lay becalmed 
to within about three-quarters of a mile of him, when he 
took the breeze and we had a running fight of three and a 
half hours, but by his superior sailing he escaped me and 
ran into Amherst Bay yesterday morning. In the course 
of our chase on the 11th, I got several broadsides from this 
ship upon the enemy, which must have done him consider- 
able injury, as many of the shot were seen to strike him, 
and people were observed over the sides plugging shot-holes. 
A few shot struck our hull, and a little rigging was cut, but 
nothing of importance — not a man was hurt. 

I was much disappointed that Sir James refused to fight 
me, as he was so much superior in point of force both in 
guns and men — having upwards of 20 guns more than we 
have, and having a greater weight of shot. 

This ship, the Madison, and the Sylph, have each a 
schooner constantly in tow, yet the others cannot sail as 
fast as the enemy's squadron, which gave him decidedly the 
advantage, and puts it in his power to engage me when and 
how he chooses. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 
Hon. Wm. Jones, Isaac Chauncey. 

Secr'y of the Navy. 



CHASE OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 219 

The British squadron was blockaded four days in Am- 
herst Bay, when, by the aid of a heavy wind from the 
westward, they escaped and succeeded in getting into 
Kingston. 

Commodore Chauncey, having ascertained that the Brit- 
ish squadron was in York Bay, sailed from Niagara on the 
27th of September. The most important events of this 
cruise are related in the following extracts from the commo- 
dore's official letter : 

" On the 28th, at 10 minutes past meridian, the enemy, 
finding that we were closing fast with him, and that he must 
either risk an action or suffer his two rear vessels to be cut 
off*, tacked in succession, beginning at the van, hoisted his 
colours and commenced a well-directed fire at this ship, for 
the purpose of covering his rear, and attacking our rear as 
he passed to the leeward. Perceiving his intention, I was 
determined to disappoint him ; therefore as soon as the Wolfe 
(the leading ship) passed the centre of his line, and abeam 
of us, I bore up in succession (preserving our line) for the 
enemy's centre. This manoeuvre not only covered our rear, 
but hove him into confusion ; he immediately bore away ; 
we had, however, closed so near as to bring our guns to 
bear with effect, and in 20 minutes the main and mizzen- 
top-mast and main-yard of the Wolfe were shot away. He 
immediately put before the wind, and set all sail upon his 
fore-mast. I made the signal for the fleet to make all sail ; 
the enemy, however, keeping dead before the wind, was 
able to outsail most of our squadron. I continued the chase 
until near 3 o'clock, during which time I was enabled in 
this ship (the General Pike) with the Asp in tow, to keep 
within point-blank shot of the enemy, and sustained the 
whole of his fire during the chase. 

At 15 minutes before 3 o'clock A. M., I very reluctantly 
relinquished the pursuit of a beaten enemy. The reasons 
that led to this determination, were such as I flatter myself 
you will approve. 

The loss sustained by this ship was considerable, owing 



220 FIVE BRITISH VESSELS CAPTURED. 

to her being so long exposed to the fire of the whole of the 
enemy's fleet ; but our most serious loss was occasioned by 
the bursting of one of our guns, which killed and wounded 
22 men, and tore up the top-gallant forecastle, which ren- 
dered the gun upon that deck useless. We had 4 other 
guns cracked in the muzzle, which rendered their use ex- 
tremely doubtful. Our main-top-gallant mast was shot 
away in the early part of the action, and the bowsprit, fore 
and main-mast wounded, rigging and sails much cut up, and 
a number of shot in our hull, several of which were between 
wind and water, and 27 men killed and wounded, including 
those by the bursting of the gun. We have repaired nearly 
all our damages and are ready to meet the enemy. During 
our chase, one, if not two, of the enemy's small vessels were 
completely in our power, if I could have been satisfied with 
so partial a victory, but I was so sure of the whole, that I 
passed them unnoticed, by which means they finally es- 
caped." In this letter men.tion is made of the conduct of 
Captain Crane, Lieutenant Brown, Lieutenant Finch, Cap- 
tain Woolsey and Captain Sinclair. 

From Commodore Chauncey to the Secretary of the Navy. 

U. S. Ship Gen. Pike, Sackett's Harbour. 

Oct. 6, 1813. 

Sir, — I have the pleasure to inform you, that I arrived 
here this morning, with 5 of the enemy's vessels, which I 
fell in with and captured last evening, off the Ducks. They 
were part of a fleet of seven sail, which left York on Sun- 
day with 234 troops on board, bound to Kingston. Of this 
fleet five were captured, one burnt, and one escaped ; the 
prisoners amounting to nearly 300, besides having upwards 
of 300 of our troops on board from Niagara, induced me to 
run into port for the purpose of landing both. 

I have the additional pleasure of informing you, that 
amongst the captured vessels are the Hamilton and Confi- 
ance, late U. S. schooners Julia and Growler ; the others are 
gun-vessels. I have the honour to be, &c. 

Isaac Chauncey. 



PEACOCK AND EPERVIER. 



221 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Commencement of the Naval Campaign of 1814, 
of the Epervier and Reindeer. 



Capture 



H E year 1814 was 
not less marked by 
brilliant naval vic- 
tories than either of 
the two preceding 
years of the war. 
Among the earliest 
actions of this cam- 
paign was that of 
the Peacock and 
Epervier. The for- 
mer vessel, com- 
manded by Captain 
Warrington, while 
cruising off thecoast 
of the United States, 
in latitude 27° 47', had the good fortune to fall in with the 
British brig-of-war Epervier, when an engagement ensued, 
the result of which is thus given in the official letter of the 
American commander. 

"At Sea, April 29th, 1814. 

Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that we have this 
morning captured, after an action of forty-two minutes, his 
Britannic majesty's brig Epervier, rating and mounting 
eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades, with one hundred 
and twenty-eight men, of whom eleven were killed, and 
fifteen wounded, according to the best information we could 
obtain — among the latter is her first lieutenant, who has 
lost an arm, and received a severe splinter-wound in the 
19* 




222 PEACOCK AND EPERVIER. 

hip. Not a man in the Peacock was killed, and only two 
wounded, neither dangerously. The fate of the Epervier 
would have been decided in much less time, but for the cir- 
cumstance of our fore-yard having been totally disabled by 
two round-shot in the starboard-quarter from her first broad- 
side, which entirely deprived us of the use of our fore-top- 
sails, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout 
the remainder of the action. 

This, with a few topmast and topgallant backstays cut 
away, and a few shot through our sails, is the only injury 
the Peacock has sustained. Not a round-shot touched our 
hull, and our masts and spars are as sound as ever. When 
the enemy struck, he had five feet water in his hold — his 
main-topmast was over the side — his main-boom shot away 
— his fore-mast cut nearly in two, and tottering — his fore- 
rigging and stays shot away — his bowsprit badly wounded, 
and forty-five shot-holes in his hull, twenty of which were 
within a foot of his water-line, above and below. By great 
exertions we got her in sailing order just as night came on. 

In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock 
was ready for another action, in every respect but the fore- 
yard, which was sent down, fished, and we had the fore-sail 
set again in forty-five minutes — such was the spirit and 
activity of our gallant crew. The Epervier had under con- 
voy an English hermaphrodite brig, a Russian, and a Span- 
ish ship, which all hauled their wind and stood to the E. N. E. 
I had determined upon pursuing the former, but found that 
it would not be prudent to leave our prize in her then crip- 
pled state, and the more particularly so, as we found she 
had on board one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in 
specie, which we soon transferred to this ship. Every 
officer, seaman, and marine did his duty, which is the highest 
compliment I can pay them. I am, &c. 

I^. Warrington." 

Captain Warrington had the good fortune to bring his 
prize safe into port, and on his return received the usual 




(223) 



WASP AND REINDEER. 225 

honours, which it had become customary to pay to men who 
conquered the enemy. 

The capture of the Reindeer sloop-of-war by the Wasp 
followed soon after. The official account of this action, by 
Captain Johnston Blakely, the commander of the Wasp, 
addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, is as follows : 

" Sir,— On Tuesday the 28th ult., being then in lat. 48° 
36' north, and long. 11° 15' west, we fell in with, engaged, 
and, after an action of nineteen minutes, captured his Bri 
tannic majesty's sloop-of-war the Reindeer, William Man- 
ners, Esq., commander. Annexed are the minutes of our 
proceedings on that day, prior to and during the continuance 
of the action. 

Where all did their duty, and each appeared anxious to 
excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, 
only rendering them their merit due, when it is declared of 
Lieutenants Reily and Bury, first and third of this vessel, 
and whose names will be found among those of the conquer- 
ors of the Guerriere and Java, and of Mr. Tillinghast, 
second lieutenant, who was greatly instrumental in the cap- 
ture of the Boxer, that their conduct and courage on this 
occasion fulfilled the highest expectation, and gratified every 
wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to great credit 
for the zeal and ability with which he discharged his vari- 
ous duties. 

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, 
while exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, 
and without an opportunity of returning it, could only be 
equalled by the animation and ardour exhibited when ac- 
tually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with 
which every attempt of the enemy to board was met, and 
successfully repelled. Such conduct may be seen, but can- 
not well be described. 

The Reindeer mounted 16 twenty-four-pound carronades, 
two long six or nine-pounders, and a shifting twelve-pound 
carronade, with a complement of, on board, 118 men. Her 
crew were said to be the pride of Plymouth. 

2n 



226 BLAKELY'S LETTERS. 

Our loss in men has been severe, owing in part to the 
proximity of the two vessels, and the extreme smoothness 
of the sea, but chiefly in repelling boarders. That of the 
enemy, however, was infinitely more so, as will be seen by 
the list of killed and wounded on both sides. 

Six round-shot struck our hull, and many grape, which 
did not penetrate far. The fore-mast received a twenty- 
four-pound shot, which passed through its centre, and our 
rigging and sails were a good deal injured. 

The Reindeer was literally cut to pieces in a line with 
her ports : her upper works, boats and spare spars were one 
complete wreck. A breeze springing up next afternoon, her 
fore-mast went by the board. 

Having received all the prisoners on board, which, from 
the number of wounded, occupied much time, together with 
their baggage, the Reindeer was, on the evening of the 29th, 
set on fire, and in a few hours blew up. 

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 

Your most obedient servant, 
Hon. Wm. Jones, Secr'y of the JVavy." J. Blakely. 



The subsequent action, in which Captain Blakely cap- 
tured the Avon, is recorded in the following letter to the 
Secretary of the Navy. 

" U. S. Sloop Wasp, at sea, lat. 41° N., long. 11° W. 

11th Sept. 1814. 

Sir, — After a protracted and tedious stay at L'Orient, I 
had at last the pleasure of leaving that place on Saturday, 
27th of August. On the 30th, captured the British brig 
Lettice, Henry Cockbain master ; and on the 31st of August, 
the British brig Bon Accord, Adam Durno master. In the 
morning of the 1st of September, discovered a convoy of 10 
sail to leeward, in charge of the Armada 74, and a bomb- 
ship ; stood for them and succeeded in cutting out the Brit- 
ish brig Mary, John D. Allan master, laden with brass can- 
non, taken from the Spaniards, iron cannon and military 
stores from Gibraltar to England : removed the prisoners. 



WASP AND AVON. 227 

set her on fire, and endeavoured to capture another of the 
convoy, but was chased off by the Armada. On the even- 
ing of the same day at ^ past 6, while going free, discovered 
four vessels, nearly at the same time, two on the starboard, 
and two on the larboard bow, being the farthest to wind- 
ward. At 7, the chase, a brig, commenced making signals, 
with flags, which could not be distinguished for want of 
light, and soon after made various ones, with lanterns, rock- 
ets, and guns. At 29 minutes after 9, having the chase 
under our lee-bow-, the 13-pound carronade was directed to 
be fired into him, which he returned ; ran under his lee-bow 
to prevent his escaping, and commenced the action. At 10 
o'clock, believing the enemy to be silenced, orders were 
given to cease firing, when I hailed and asked if he had sur- 
rendered. No answer being given to this, and his firing 
having recommenced, it was again returned. At 12 min- 
utes after 10, the enemy having suffered greatly, and having 
made no return to our last two broadsides, I hailed him the 
second time to know if he had surrendered, when he an- 
swered in the affirmative. The guns were then ordered to 
be secured, and the boat lowered to take possession. In the 
act of lowering the boat, a second brig was discovered a 
little distance astern and standing for us. Sent the crew to 
their quarters, prepared every thing for another action, and 
awaited his coming up. At 36 minutes after 10, discovered 
two more sails astern, standing towards us. I now felt my- 
self compelled to forego the satisfaction of destroying the 
prize. Our braces having been cut away, we kept off the 
wind until others could be rove, and with the expectation 
of drawing the second brig from his companions ; but in 
this last we were disappointed. The second brig continued 
to approach us until she came close to our stern, when she 
hauled by the wind, fired her broadside, which cut our rig- 
ging and sails considerably, and shot away a lower main 
cross-tree, and retraced her steps to join her consorts ; when 
we were necessitated to abandon the prize. He appeared 
in every respect a total wreck. He continued for some time 



228 RESULT OF THE ACTION. 

firing guns of distress, until probably delivered by the two 
last vessels who made their appearance. The second brig 
could have engaged us if he thought proper, as he neared 
us fast : but contented himself with firing a broadside, and 
immediately returned to his companions. 

It is with real satisfaction I have again the pleasure of 
bearing testimony to the merits of Lieutenants Reily, Til- 
linghast, Bury and Sailing-Master Carr : and to the good 
conduct of every officer and man on board the Wasp. — 
Their divisions and departments were attended and supplied 
with the utmost regularity and abundance, which, with the 
good order maintained, together with the vivacity and pre- 
cision of their fire, reflects on them the greatest credit. Our 
loss is two killed, and one slightly wounded with a wad. 
The hull received four round-shot, and the fore-mast many 
grape-shot. Our rigging and sails suifered a great deal. 
Every damage has been repaired the day after, with the 
exception of our sails. 

Of the vessel with whom we were engaged, nothing posi- 
tive can be said with regard to her name or force. While 
hailing him previous to his being fired into, it was blowing 
fresh (then going ten knots) and the name was not distinctly 
understood. Of her force, the four shot which struck us 
are all 32 pounds in weight, being a pound and three-quar- 
ters heavier than any belonging to this vessel. From this 
circumstance, the number of men in her tops, her general 
appearance and great length, she is believed to be one of 
the largest brigs in the British navy. - 

I have the honour to be, very respectfully. 

Your most obedient servant, 
Hon. Wm. Jones, «Sz;c. J. Blakely. 

P. S. I am told the enemy, after his surrender, asked for 
assistance, and said he was sinking — the probability of this 
is confirmed by his firing single guns for some time after his 
capture." 

The enemy reported that they had sunk the Wasp by the 
first broadside ; but she was afterwards spoken by a vessel 



FATE OF THE WASP. 



229 



off the Western Isles. After this we hear of her no more ; 
and though her fate is certain, the circumstances attending 
it are beyond the reach of discovery. The most general 
impression is, that she was lost by one of those casualties 
incident to the great deep, which have destroyed so many 
gallant vessels, in a manner no one knows how ; for there 
are so many uncertainties connected with the unfatliomable 
ocean, that even imagination is bewildered in tracing the fate 
of those who are only known to have perished, because they 
are never more heard of or seen. Another impression is, 
that the Wasp, very shortly after being spoken off the 
Western Isles, had a severe engagement with a British fri- 
gate, which put into Lisbon in a shattered condition ; and 
reported having had an action, in the night, with a vessel, 
which was not seen next morning, although the whole night 
had been calm. 




20 



280 



PREPARATIONS ON rilAMPLAIN. 




CHAPTER XVTI. 

M'Donough's Victory on Lake Champlain. 

NOWING the 

importance of 
guarding the wa- 
ter communica- 
tions on the nor- 
thern frontier, the 
American gov- 
ernment placed 
a small naval 
force on Lake 
Champlain, soon 
after the declara- 
tion of war, in 
1812, for the threefold object of affording protection to our 
frontier in that quarter ; facilitating military operations ; 
and preventing, as far as possible, the enemy from receiving 
those supplies, which were continually furnished by the 
corrupt and treasonable agency of some of our own citizens. 
It became necessary, in proportion as the operations of our 
armies were directed to this quarter, to augment this force, 
as well because it could materially co-operate in offensive 
designs, as because it had become indispensable, perhaps, 
from the augmentation of the naval force of the enemy, on 
Lake Champlain. Although the greatest efforts of the ad- 
ministration, in this contest of ship-building, were exerted 
on I^ake Ontario, still there was a considerable degree of 
attention bestowed on the augmentation of our naval force 
on Lake Champlain also. The enemy made corresponding 
exertions; and in the year 1814, the relative force of the 
two nations, on Lake Champlain, stood as follows : 




COMMOBOMvE 



TIBI®M[AS MA€ID)®H-©lDr(&M. lU.. L^. W 



5ew York , D.A;iplPton & Co. ZOO Broaaw^iy 



THE SQUADRONS ENGAGE. 231 

ASUBRICAN. GUNS. BRITISH. GUNS. 

Saratoga, 26 Frigate Confiance, 39 

Eagle, 20 Brig Linnet, 16 

Ticonderoga, 17 Sloop Chubb, 11 

Preble, 7 Finch, 11 

1 galleys, carrying 16 13 galleys, carrying 18 

Total, 86 Total, 95 

Thus stood affairs, when, early in the month of Septem- 
ber, in that year, Sir George Prevost began his march, at 
the head of fourteen thousand men, with the intention of 
dislodging General Macomb from his works at Piattsburg, 
and then penetrating into the heart of the state of New 
York. There is reason to suppose that this plan was con- 
nected with an attack on the city of New York, by the force 
on our maritime frontier, had it succeeded in the affair of 
Baltimore. Certain it is that this apprehension had drawn 
the militia from the country above, and left it in a state 
very much exposed to the incursions of the enemy. The 
destruction of the American naval force on Lake Champlain 
was supposed, by Sir George Prevost, to be essential to the 
success of his plan of operations ; and Captain Downie, who 
was at the head of the British squadron, was directed to 
attack the American naval force, which had been for some 
time under the command of M'Donough, then only a lieu- 
tenant, at the same time that Sir George stormed the in- 
trenchments at Piattsburg. 

Aware of their intentions, and knowing of their approach, 
M'Donough decided to await the attack at anchor. At 
eight in the morning of the 11th of September 1814, the 
look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy's squad- 
ron. The hostile ships were soon in action, and we cannot 
do better than describe the battle in Captain M'Donough's 
own words. 

" At nine," says the Captain, " the enemy anchored in a 
line ahead, at about three hundred yards distant from my 
line : his ship opposed to the Saratoga ; his brig to the 



232 BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

Eagle, Captain Robert Henly; his galleys, thirteen in num- 
ber, to the schooner, sloop, and a division of our galleys — 
one of his sloops assisting their ship and brig ; the other 
assisting their galleys. Our remaining galleys were with 
the Saratoga and Eagle. 

" In this situation, the whole force on both sides became 
engaged, the Saratoga suifering much from the heavy fire 
of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, how- 
ever, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticon- 
deroga, lieutenant-commandant Cassin, gallantly sustained 
her full share of the action. At half past ten, the Eagle, 
not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable, and 
anchored in a more eligible position, between my ship and 
the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy ; 
but unfortunately leaving me exposed to a galling fire from 
the enemy's brig. 

" Our guns on the starboard side being nearly all dis- 
mounted, or unmanageable, a stern anchor was let go, the 
bower cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broad- 
side on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. 
Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which 
struck about fifteen minutes afterwards. The sloop which 
was opposed to the Eagle, had struck some time before, and 
drifted down the line. The sloop that was with their gal- 
leys had also struck. Three of their galleys are said to be 
sunk ; the others pulled off". Our galleys were about obey- 
ing with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the 
vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state. It 
then became necessary to annul the signal to the galleys, 
and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at 
the enemy's galleys going off in a shattered condition ; for 
there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand 
to make sail on. The lower rigging being nearly all shot 
away, hung down as though it had just been placed over the 
mast heads. 

" The Saratoga had fifty-nine round shot in her hull ; the 
Confiance one hundred and five. The enemy's shot passed 



DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY. 235 

principally just over our heads, as there were not twenty 
whole hammocks in the nettings, at the close of the action, 
which lasted, without intermission, two hours and twenty 
minutes. 

" The absence and sickness of lieutenant Raymond Perry 
left me without the assistance of that excellent officer. 
Much ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care 
and attention in disciplining the ship's crew, as her first 
lieutenant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, 
lieutenant Peter Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was 
killed early in the action." 

Captain M'Donough concludes his letter by stating that 
the Saratoga was twice set on fire during the engagement 
by hot shot from the enemy's ship ; and expressions of gra- 
titude for the able support he received from every officer 
and man in the squadron. 

The loss of the Americans, in this hard-fought battle, was 
fifty-two killed and fifty-eight wounded: that of the British 
eighty-four killed and one hundred and ten wounded. 
Among the killed on the American side was lieutenant 
Peter Gamble, a gallant young officer, one of three gallant 
brothers who had devoted themselves to the service of their 
country. The other two brothers survived. He who fell 
on the memorable 11th of September, is inseparably con- 
nected with an event which will never be forgotten in this 
nation, and will, we trust, bear with it the recollection as 
well of the living as of the dead who were instrumental in 
gaining one of the most important victories of the war. 
The American squadron carried two thousand and twenty- 
three pounds weight of metal, and eight hundred and twenty 
men ; that of the British nineteen hundred and fifty weight 
of metal, and one thousand and fifty men.* 

It was in this action that the far-famed manoeuvre of 
coming down head first upon the enemy was first tried 
against the Americans, and the result was, what we will 



* We are indebted, for this latter information, to Mr. Niles's Register, which contains 
perhaps more valuable information than any work published in this country. 



236 EFFECTS OF THE VICTORY. 

venture to predict it always will be, when tried against a 
force any way equal in skill, numbers, and courage. The 
British vessels were cut to pieces before they were in a 
situation to bring their guns to bear against the Americans ; 
and nothing carries a stronger conviction to our minds, of 
the want of proper skill and self-possession in the officers and 
men of those fleets that have been taken or defeated by this 
manoeuvre, than the fatal effects which resulted from the 
attempt in this instance. 

The anxiety of the public had long drawn the attention 
of all who were capable of reasoning upon the probable 
eftect of Sir George Prevost's operations, or who felt an 
interest in the fate of this country. It was justly feared 
that the enemy, after succeeding against the fleet on Lake 
Champlain, and forcing the intrenchments of General 
Macomb, at Plattsburg, would penetrate into the heart of 
the State of New York, and perhaps establish a communi- 
cation, by means of the Hudson, with the Atlantic fleet and 
forces, should these succeed against the city of New York. 
But the news of this victory, and the consequent precipi- 
tate retreat of Sir George, turned their gloomy anticipations 
into triumphant rejoicings. The frontier was saved from 
desolation ; and many a prayer was breathed for M'Donough 
and his gallant associates, who thus saved the hopes of the 
peaceable farmer, and freed his innocent folds from probable 
plunder and devastation. Independently of the real mag- 
nitude of the effects produced by this victory, it derived a 
peculiar and picturesque character from the circumstances 
under which it was gained. It was fought in sight of two 
hostile armies, whose hopes of ultimate success depended 
upon its issue ; and in the view of thousands of people, who 
watched in breathless anxiety the result of a struggle that 
was to decide whether they were to be driven from their 
homes in beggary, or remain in the peaceable enjoyment of 
their firesides. The shores of the lake adjacent, the pro- 
jecting points of land, and the neighbouring hills, were ani- 
mated with spectators, and the victory was greeted by the 



M'DONOUGH REWARDED. 



237 



shoutings of multitudes. It corresponded well to that of the 
gallant and amiable Perry ; and equally young, gallant, and 
fortunate, the names of Perry and M'Donough will, we 
trust, be associated together to the latest times, as brothers 
in deserving, and brothers in success. 

Amid the usual demonstrations on such occasions, the 
state of New York, which had been most peculiarly bene- 
fited by M'Donough's victory, gave more solid testimonials 
of her gratitude. He received a grant of land from the 
legislature of one thousand acres ; a property which is, in 
itself, an independency, and must be doubly dear to him 
and his posterity, because it lies on the bay where he 
achieved the action which merited this reward. The cor- 
poration of Albany, as well as that of the city of New York 
also, made him each a grant of a valuable lot, so that, to use 
his own expressions, in one month, from a poor lieutenant, 
he became a rich man, by the liberality of his countrymen. 




238 



FRIGATE PRESIDENT, 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Defeat of the Endymion. Capture of the President Frigate, 

T the commence- 
ment of the year 
1815, Commodore 
Decatur, who, while 
the Macedonian and 
United States were 
blockaded in the 
harbour of New 
London, in 1814, 
had been transfer- 
red, with his crew, 
to the command of 
the President, was 
waiting in New 
York for an op}X)r- 
tunity to put to sea. 
The squadron under his command consisted of the Presi- 
dent, the Peacock, the Hornet, and the store-ship Tom Bow- 
line ; and it was intended to cruise in the East Indies. 

The President sailed, in advance of the rest of the squad- 
ron, on the 14th of January 1815. The remainder of the 
squadron did not sail till the 23d of January. The events 
of Captain Biddle's cruise in the Hornet will be given in 
the next Chapter. The unfortunate result of Commodore 
Decatur's attempt to elude the enemy, and get to sea, is 
given in the following official letter. 

His Britannic Majesty's Ship Endymion, at sea. 

January 18, 1815. 

Sir, — The painful duty of detailing to you the particu- 
lar causes which preceded and led to the capture of the late 




CHASED BY THE ENEMY. 239 

United States' frigate President, by a squadron of his Bri- 
tannic majesty's ships (as per margin), has devolved upon 
me. In my communication of the 14th, I made known to 
you my intention of proceeding to sea on that evening. 
Owing to some mistake of the pilots, the ship, in going out, 
grounded on the bar, where she continued to strike heavily 
for an hour and a half ; although she had broken several of 
her rudder braces, and had received such other material 
injury as to render her return into port desirable, I was 
unable to do so from the strong westerly wind which was 
then blowing. It being now high water, it became neces- 
sary to force her over the bar before the tide fell. In this 
we succeeded by 10 o'clock, when we shaped our course 
along the shore of Long Island for fifty miles, and then 
steered S, E. by E. At 5 o'clock three ships were disco- 
vered a-head : we immediately hauled up the ship, and 
passed two miles to the northward of them. At daylight 
we discovered four ships in chase, one on each quarter, and 
two astern — the leading ship of the enemy a razee. She 
commenced a fire upon us ; but without effect. At meridian, 
the wind became light and baffling : we had increased our 
distance from the razee, but the next ship astern, which was 
also a large ship, had gained, and continued to gain upon 
us considerably. We immediately occupied all hands to 
lighten ship, by starting water, cutting away the anchors, 
throwing overboard provisions, cables, spare spars, boats, 
and every article that could be got at, keeping the sails wet 
from the royals down. At 3 o'clock we had the wind quite 
light : the enemy, who had now been joined by a brig, had 
a strong breeze, and were coming up with us rapidly. The 
Endymion (mounting 50 guns, twenty-four-pounders on the 
main-deck) had now approached us within gun-shot, and 
had commenced a fire with her bow guns, which we returned 
from our stern. At 5 o'clock she had obtained a position 
on our starboard quarter, within half point blank shot, on 
which neither our stern nor quarter guns would bear. We 
were now steering E. by N., the wind N. W. I remained 



240 PRESIDENT DEFEATS ENDYMION. 

with her in this position for half an hour, in the hope that 
she would close with us on our broadside, in which case I 
had prepared my crew to board ; but, from his continuing 
to yaw his ship to maintain his position, it became evident 
that to close was not his intention. Every fire now cut 
some of our sails or rigging. 

To have continued our course, under these circumstances, 
would have been placing it in his power to cripple us, with- 
out being subject to injury himself, and to have hauled up 
more to the northward, to bring our stern guns to bear, 
would have exposed us to his raking fire. It was now dusk, 
when I determined to alter my course south, for the pur- 
pose of bringing the enemy a-beam ; and, although their 
ships a-stern were drawing up fast, I felt satisfied I should 
be enabled to throw him out of the combat before they could 
come up, and was not without hopes, if the night proved 
dark (of which there was every appearance), that I might 
still be enabled to effect my escape. Our opponent kept off 
at the same instant we did, and our fire commenced at the 
same time. We continued engaged, steering south, with 
steering-sails set, two hours and a half, when we completely 
succeeded in dismantling her. Previously to her dropping 
entirely out of the action, there were intervals of minutes 
when the ships were broadside and broadside, in which she 
did not fire a gun. At this period (half past eight o'clock), 
although dark, the other ships of the squadron were in sight, 
and almost within gun-shot. We were, of course, com- 
pelled to abandon her. 1% resuming our former course, for 
the purpose of avoiding the squadron, we were compelled 
to present our stern to our antagonist ; but such was his 
state, though we were thus exposed, and within range of 
his guns for half an hour, that he did not avail himself of 
this favourable opportunity of raking us. We continued 
this course until one o'clock, when two fresh ships of the 
enemy (the Pomona and Tenedos) had come up. The Po- 
mona had opened her fire on the larboard bow, within mus- 
ket-shot ; the other about two cables' length a-stern, taking 



CAPTURED BY A SQUADRON. 241 

a raking position on our quarter ; and the rest (with the 
exception of the Endymion) within gun-shot. Thus situa- 
ated, with about one-fifth of my crew killed and wounded, 
my ship crippled, and a more than four-fold force opposed 
to me, without a chance of escape left, I deemed it my duty 
to surrender. 

It is with emotions of pride I bear testimony to the gal- 
lantry and steadiness of every officer and man I had the 
honour to command on this occasion ; and I feel satisfied 
that the fact of their having beaten a force equal to them- 
selves, in the presence, and almost under the guns of so 
vastly a superior force, when, too, it was almost self-evident, 
that, whatever their exertions might be, they must ulti- 
mately be captured, will be taken as evidences of what they 
would have performed, had the force opposed to them been 
in any degree equal. 

It is with extreme pain I have to inform you, that lieu- 
tenants Babbit, Hamilton, and Howell, fell in the action. 
They have left no officers of superior merit behind them. 

If, sir, the issue of this affair had been fortunate, I should 
have felt it my duty to have recommended to your atten- 
tion lieutenants Shubrick and Gallagher. They maintained 
throughout the day the reputation they had acquired in for- 
mer actions. 

Lieutenant Twiggs, of the marines, displayed great zeal; 
his men were well supplied, and their fire incomparable, so 
long as the enemy continued within musket-range. 

Midshipman Randolph, who hi%d charge of the forecastle 
division, managed it to my entire satisfaction. 

From Mr. Robinson, who was serving as a volunteer, I 
received essential aid, particularly after I was deprived of 
the services of the master, and the severe loss I hud sus- 
tained in my officers on the quarter-deck. 

Of our loss in killed and wounded,! am unabl'e at present 

to give you a correct statement ; the attention of the surgeon 

being so entirely occupied with the wounded, that he was 

unable to make out a correct return when I left the Presi- 

21 2f 



242 LOSS OF BOTH SHIPS, 

dent, nor shall I be able to make it until our arrival in port, 
we having parted company with the squadzon yesterday. 
The enclosed list, with the exception, I fear, of its being 
short of the number, will be found correct. 

For twenty-four hours after the action it was nearly 
calm, and the squadron were occupied in repairing the crip- 
pled ships. Such of the crew of the President as were not 
badly wounded, were put on board the different ships : my- 
self and a part of my crew were put on board this ship. 
On the 17th we had a gale from the eastward, in which this 
ship lost her bowsprit, fore and mainmasts, and mizzen-top- 
mast, all of which were badly wounded, and was, in conse- 
quence of her disabled condition, obliged to throw overboard 
all her upper-deck guns. Her loss in killed and wounded 
must have been very great. I have not been able to ascer- 
tain the extent. Ten were buried after I came on board 
(36 hours after the action). The badly wounded, such as 
are obliged to keep their cots, occupy the starboard side of 
the gun-deck, from the cabin bulkhead to the mainmast. 
From the crippled state of the President's spars, I feel satis- 
fied she could not have saved her masts ; and I feel serious 
apprehensions for the safety of our wounded left on board. 

It is due to Captain Hope to state, that every attention 
has been paid by him to myself and officers that have been 
placed on board his ship, that delicacy and humanity could 
dictate. 

I have the honour to be, with much respect, sir. 
Your obedient servant, 

Stephen Decatur. 

Hon. Benj. W. Crowninshield, 
Secretary of the JVavy. 

British Squadron referred to in the Letter. 
Majestic razee ; Endymion, Pomona and Tenedos frigates ; 
and the Despatch brig. 

List of killed and wounded on board the U. S. Frigate President. 
Killed, 24. Wounded, 55. 



HEROISM OF AMERICAN SAILORS. 



343 



The conduct of Commodore Decatur, and his gallant crew, 
in this aftair, presents a new feature of heroism in the cha- 
racter of our countrymen. Fully aware of the presence of 
an overwhelming force, to which they would, in all proba- 
bility, be ultimately compelled to yield, these steady and 
courageous men fought out the action with the Endymion, 
and fairly conquered her. The maxims of naval discipline 
were never more strictly complied with, or more splendidly 
illustrated. 




244 



LIEUTENANT BIDDLE. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Capture of the Penguin. 

lEUTE NANT 
James Biddle was 
second in command 
under Captain Jones 
of the Wasp, when 
that vessel captured 
the Frolic. He was 
placed in command 
of the prize and di- 
rected to rig jury- 
masts, in the room 
of her main and fore- 
masts, that had gone 
over very soon after 
the action, and to 
make the best of his way to a southern port of the United 
States. Before they separated, however, they had the mis- 
fortune to fall in with the Poictiers of seventy-four guns, 
and as the situation of both vessels precluded every hope 
of escape or resistance, both were surrendered as before 
related. The captain and officers were carried to Bermuda, 
released on their parole after a short detention, and returned 
in safety to the United States. 

On his being exchanged. Lieutenant Biddle was promoted 
to the rank of master-commandant in the navy, and assumed 
the command of all the gun-boats that were stationed in the 
Delaware. He afterwards succeeded Captain Lawrence in 
the command of the Hornet, which vessel was at first in- 
tended to join the Chesapeake in a cruise against the Brit- 
ish trade to the Canadas. On the capture of that ever 




SQUADRON AT NEW LONDON. 245 

unlucky vessel, whose destiny outweighed even the valour 
and the fortunes of a Lawrence, Captain Biddle, pursuant 
to subsequent orders, joined the squadron under Commo- 
dore Decatur, which was blockaded in the harbour of New 
London, by a superior force of the enemy, until the conclu- 
sion of the war. Captain Biddle, like his gallant com- 
mander, and every soul under him, lamented the inactive 
life that was the consequence of this detention in port, and 
the former applied for permission to attempt an escape with 
the Hornet alone. This did not, however, accord with the 
views of the government, and his request was not granted. 

The squadi'on to which Captain Biddle belonged, re- 
mained in the harbour of New London, in the hope of 
getting out to sea during the season of heavy gales ; but 
when this had passed away, without affording any opportu- 
nity, the two frigates were moored as high up the river as 
possible, and dismantled ; Commodore Decatur and his crew 
being transferred to the frigate President. When this ar- 
rangement had taken place, and the season favourable for 
the enemy to make an attack on those vessels, if they had 
such an intention, had passed away, Captain Biddle again 
applied for, and obtained permission to attempt his escape 
in the Hornet. He succeeded in evading the British squad- 
ron, and joined a force at New York, intended to cruise 
under Commodore Decatur, in the East Indies. That offi 
cer went to sea in the President, on the 14th of January, 
1815, having the sloops of war Peacock, Captain Warring- 
ton, and Hornet, to convoy the store-ship, which was not 
in readiness to accompany them at that time. They did 
not get out until the 23d of January, and separated a few 
days after, in consequence of the Hornet chasing a vessel, 
which, on being overhauled, proved a Portuguese. From 
this they proceeded singly for their first rendezvous, which 
was the Island of Tristan d' Acunha. 

On the morning of the 23d of March, at the moment the 
Hornet was preparing to anchor off that island, a sail hove 
in sight, steering to the northward, with a fine breeze, and 
21* 



246 HORNET AND PENGUIN. 

disappeared in a few minutes behind a projecting point of 
land. The Hornet immediately made sail, and on clearing 
the point, discovered the same vessel, bearing down before 
the wind, when Captain Biddle shortened sail, and hove-to 
for her to come up with him. When the stranger got near, 
he began also to shorten sail, and took in his steering-sails 
very clumsily for the purpose of practising a deception, as 
it afterwards appeared. He also came down stern on, in 
order, as the officers afterwards acknowledged, that the 
Hornet should not see her broadside and attempt to escape. 
The engagement cannot be better described than in the 
words of Captain Biddle's official letter. 

"At Ih. 40m. P. M.," says he, " being nearly within mus- 
ket-shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard 
tack, hoisted English colours, and fired a gun. We imme- 
diately luffed to, hoisted our ensign, and gave the enemy a 
broadside. The action being thus commenced, a quick and 
well-diz*ected fire was kept up from this ship, the enemy 
gradually shifting nearer to us, when at Ih. 55m. he bore 
up apparently to run us on board. As soon as I perceived 
that he would certainly fall on board, I called the boarders, 
so as to be ready to repel any attempt to board us. At the 
instant every officer and man repaired to the quarter-deck, 
where the two vessels were coming in contact, and eagerly 
pressed me to permit them to board the enemy. But this I 
would not permit, as it was evident from the commence- 
ment of the action that our fire was greatly superior, both 
in quickness and effect. The enemy's bowsprit came in 
between our main and mizzen rigging, on the starboard side, 
which afforded him an opportunity of boarding us, if such 
had been his design, but no attempt was made. There was 
a considerable swell on, and as the sea lifted us ahead, the 
enemy's bowsprit carried away our mizzen shrouds, stern 
davits, and spanker boom ; and he hung upon our larboard 
quarter. At this moment an officer who was afterwards 
recognized to be Mr. M'Donald, the first lieutenant, and the 
then commanding officer, called out that they had surren- 



SURRENDER OF THE PENGUIN. 247 

dered. I directed the marines and musketry-men to cease 
firing, and while on the taffrail asking if they had surren- 
dered, I received a wound in the neck. The enemy just 
then got clear of us, and his foremast and bowsprit being 
both gone, and perceiving us waring to give him a fresh 
broadside, he again called out that he had surrendered. It 
was with difficulty I could resti-ain my crew from firing 
into him again, as he had certainly fired into us after having 
surrendered. From the firing of the first gun to the last 
time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, it was ex- 
actly twenty-two minutes by the watch. She proved to be 
his Britannic majesty's brig Penguin, mounting sixteen 
thirty-two pound carronades, two long twelves, and a 
twelve-pound carronade on the top-gallant forecastle, with 
swivels on the capstan and on the tops. She had a spare 
port forward so as to fight both her long guns of a side. 
She sailed from England in September last. She was 
shorter on deck than this ship by two feet, but had greater 
length of keel, greater breadth of beam, thicker sides and 
higher bulwarks than this ship, and was in all respects a 
remarkably fine vessel of her class. The enemy acknow- 
ledge a complement of 132, twelve of them supernumerary 
marines from the Med way 74, received on board in conse- 
quence of her being ordered to cruise for the American pri- 
vateer Young Wasp. They acknowledged also a loss of 14 
killed and 28 wounded ; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge 
of the prize, assures me that the number of killed was cer- 
tainly greater." The Hornet had one killed and 1 1 wounded. 
Among the killed of the Penguin was Captain Dickinson, 
her commander, who is represented to have been a deserv- 
ing and favourite officer. Not a single round-shot struck 
the hull of the Hornet, but her sides were filled with grape, 
and her sails and rigging much cut. The Penguin was so 
severely cut up, had lost so many of her spars, and those 
remaining were so crippled, that it was determined not to 
attempt sending her in, and she was accordingly scuttled. 
Among the many honourable characteristics, in the cha- 



248 AMERICAN SAILORS. 

racter of our sailors, is their attachment to their officers. 
Being volunteers in the fullest extent of the term, there is 
no occasion to exercise that jealous watchfulness, which is 
so necessary on board a British man-of-war, where a large 
portion of the crew, in most instances, is composed of men 
impressed into the service. There is consequently a mutual 
confidence between our sailors and officers, which is the 
foundation of a reciprocal good-will and affection. Our 
commanders know they can always trust to the fidelity of 
their men, who during the war with England, were per- 
mitted, when in port, to go on shore at all times. The crew 
of the frigate United States, were all on shore at New York, 
at one time, at the theatre, from whence they dispersed all 
over the town, yet not one attempted to desert. Several 
other instances of the kind occurred, in the course of the 
war, and the result was invariably the same. 

This fidelity and attachment was evinced in the case of 
Captain Biddle, who, in the early part of the action with 
the Penguin, was several times scratched in the face with 
splinters, which disfigured him considerably. When after- 
wards he was struck with a musket-ball, in the neck, and 
the blood flowed profusely, the anxiety of the crew became 
very great. Two of the men took him in their arms, to 
carry him below, but finding he would not permit it, one of 
these honest-hearted affectionate fellows, stripped off his shirt 
and tied it round his commander's neck to stop the bleed- 
ing. It is a circumstance honourable to this gallant young 
officer, that his own wound was the last dressed on board 
the Hornet. 

It is a fact, as it now stands, no way honourable to the 
character of the British sailor, that Captain Biddle received 
his wound after the Penguin had surrendered. While 
standing on the taflfrail, after having directed the firing to 
cease on board the Hornet, in consequence of the surrender, 
one of his officers cried out, that a man was taking aim at 
him ; Captain Biddle, however did not hear him, but a 
couple of marines seeing the fellow taking aim, fired and 



THE HORNET CHASED. 249 

shot him dead, not however until he had discharged his 
piece, standing at not more than twelve yards distant. The 
ball struck Captain Biddle's chin, passed along the neck, 
and disengaged itself at the back, through his cravat, waist- 
coat, and the collar of his coat. ~ 

In a conversation with Mr. M'Donald, the oldest surviv- 
ing officer of the Penguin, he informed Captain Biddle, that 
Captain Dickinson said to him, but a moment before his life 
was terminated by a grape-shot, " M'Donald, this fellow 
hits us every time ; we can't stand his fire ; we must run 
him on board." When the command devolved on Mr. 
M'Donald he gave orders to board, but his men declined an 
experiment which would assuredly have been fatal, as every 
officer and man of the Hornet was prepared for their recep- 
tion, and the crew wei-e eagerly anxious for permission to 
board the Penguin. 

A few days after this action, Captain Biddle was joined 
by Captain Warrington, in the Peacock, accompanied by 
the ship Tom Bowline, and as the Hornet required but few 
repairs, she was soon ready agaiii for service. Having 
waited the appointed time at Tristan d'Acunha, without 
being joined by the President, they converted the Tom Bow- 
line into a cartel, despatched her to St. Salvador with the 
prisoners, and, on the 12th of April, set sail for the Cape of 
Good Hope. On the 27th they saw a strange sail, to which 
they gave chase, but did not approach near enough to ascer- 
tain what she was until the afternoon of the next day, when 
the Peacock, being the headmost vessel, made signal that 
she was a ship of the line, and an enemy. On this the 
Hornet hauled upon a wind, and the enemy commenced a 
chase, which lasted nearly thirty-six hours, during which 
time he fired several times into the Hornet, at not more than 
a distance of three-quarters of a mile. On this occasion 
Captain Biddle displayed a degree of skill, perseverance and 
fortitude, highly honourable to the character of our navy. 
Though still weak from his wounds, he continued to encour- 
age his men by example and exhortation, preserved the 

2g 



250 HONOURS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE. 

utmost coolness, exerted the most admirable skill, and finally, 
notwithstanding he was several times exposed to the ene- 
my's fire, at the distance of less than three-quarters of a 
mile, preserved his gallant little vessel and her crew to their 
country. There are few situations in which the sterling 
qualities of an officer are more severely tested than the one 
just described, nor is it is easy to offer any higher praise 
than to say, that in this long and arduous struggle Captain 
Biddle fulfilled the wishes of his friends, and the hopes of 
his country. 

The loss of her guns and various other articles of equip- 
ment, thrown overboard during this chase, rendered it ne- 
cessary for the Hornet to return to some port ; and as it 
would have been extremely hazardous to attempt getting 
home under such circumstances, Captain Biddle determined 
to make for St. Salvador. His intention was to refit at that 
place, and continue his cruise ; but on his arrival there he 
learned the ratification of peace between the United States 
and Great Britain, and proceeded in consequence to New 
York, where he arrived the 30th of July. During his ab- 
sence he had been promoted to the rank of post-captain ; and 
on his return the citizens of New York gave him a public 
dinner, while those of Philadelphia, with their characteristic 
liberality, raised a subscription for a service of plate to be 
presented to him, in consideration of his public services and 
private worth. A court of inquiry was held, at his desire, 
to investigate the cause of the return of the Hornet, as well 
as the circumstances which led to the loss of her armament, 
&c., and Captain Biddle was acquitted, with merited com- 
pliments to his skill, and persevering gallantry. 




CAPTAIN STEWART. 



251 



CHAPTER XX. 

Services of Captain Stewart, in the Frigate Constitution — 
Capture of the Cyane and Levant. 

HORTLY after the 
repulse of the British 
at Norfolk, Captain 
Stewart was ordered 
to assume the com- 
mand of the frigate 
Constitution, then un- 
dergoing repairs at 
Boston. In December 
following he proceeded 
on a cruise. After ex- 
hibiting that ship on 
the coasts of Georgia 
and South Carolina, 
about the Bermuda Islands, off the coasts of Surinam, Berbice 
and Demerara, to windward of the Island of Barbadoes, St. 
Vincent, Martinico, off St. Christopher's, St. Eustatia, Porto 
Rico and Santa Cruz, and destroying the Picton, of sixteen 
guns, a merchant-ship of ten guns, the brig Catherine, and 
schooner Phoenix, he chased several British ships of war, and 
the frigate La Pique, in the Mona passage, without being able 
to overtake any of them, in consequence of the worn-out 
state of the sails of the Constitution. Captain Stewart de- 
termined to return to Boston, and replace them ; for the old 
sails had served throughout the periods of Captain Hull's 
and Captain Bainbridge's former cruises. In April, the 
Constitution arrived at Marblehead, in Massachusetts bay, 
having with great difficulty escaped from the British frigates, 
the Junon, and La Nymphe, of fifty guns each. 




252 CAPTURE OF CYANE AND LEVANT. 

In December, the Constitution proceeded on another 
cruise, under the command of Captain Stewart, having been 
refitted with great care, and furnished with new sails. On 
the 24th, he captured and destroyed, to the eastward of the 
Bermudas, the brig Lord Nelson ; off Lisbon, he captured 
the ship Susan, with a valuable cargo, and sent her to New 
York; and on the 20th of February 1815, after a sharp 
conflict of forty minutes, he captured the British ships of 
war, the Cyane of 34 guns, and the Levant of 21 guns, 
having three men killed, and thirteen wounded, the British 
ships having, in all, thirty-five killed, and forty-two wounded. 

The following is the official report of that action. 

United States Frigate Constitution, at sea. 

February 23, 1815. 

Sir, — On the 20th of February last, the Island of Ma- 
deira bearing W. S. W., distant about sixty leagues, we 
fell in with his Britannic majesty's tioo ships of war, the 
Cyane and Levant, and brought them to action about six 
o'clock in the evening, both of which, after a spirited en- 
gagement of forty minutes, surrendered to the ship under 
my command. 

Considering the advantages derived by the enemy from 
having a divided and more active force, as also the supe- 
liority in the weight and number of their guns, I deem the 
speedy and decisive result of this action, the strongest assu- 
rance which can be given to the government, that all under 
my command did their duty, and gallantly supported the 
reputation of American seamen. 

Enclosed you will receive the minutes of the action, and 
a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship — also, 
enclosed, you will receive for your information, a statement 
of the actual force of the enemy, and the number killed and 
wounded on board their ships, as near as could be ascer- 
tained. 

I have the honour to be, sir, very respectfully. 
Your obedient servant, 

Charles Stewart. 

To Hon. Secretary of the Navy, Wasliington. 



PUBLIC HONOURS. 253 

Captain Stewart proceeded with these prizes to the Island 
of St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd Islands, with a view 
to divest his ship of the numerous prisoners, consisting of 
the officers, seamen, and marines of both ships of the ene- 
my, amounting to nearly four hundred. While making 
arrangements for despatching them at Port Praya, for Bar- 
badoes, the British squadron, consisting of the ships of war 
the Acasta, of 50 guns, the New-Castle, of 64 guns, and the 
Leander, of 64 guns, under the command of Sir George 
Collier, got quite near, under cover of a thick fog. Cap- 
tain Stewart had nothing left but flight. The Constitution 
and her prizes cut their cables and crowded sail to escape. 
The Constitution and the Cyane were saved. The Levant 
was recaptured by the squadron, and sent to Barbadoes. 

After this escape, he proceeded with the Constitution to 
Maranham, in the Brazils, and landed the prisoners, refreshed 
his crews, refitted his vessel, and returned to Boston, where 
he and his officers were received with the usual courtesies 
by their fellow-citizens. On his way through New York, 
the Common Council honoured Captain Stewart with the 
freedom of their city, in a gold box, and extended towards 
him and his officers the courteous hospitalities of that great 
city, by a public dinner. 

On his arrival in Philadelphia, the legislature of his na- 
tive state (Pennsylvania) voted him their thanks, and di- 
rected his Excellency the Governor to cause a gold-hilted 
sword to be presented to Captain Stewart, in testimony of 
their sense of his distinguished merits in capturing the 
British ships of war, of superior force, the Cyane and the 
Levant. 

On the meeting of Congress, the assembled representa- 
tives of the nation passed a vote of thanks to Captain Stew- 
art, his officers, and crew ; and resolved that a suitable 
gold medal, commemorative of that brilliant event, the cap- 
ture of the two British ships of war, the Cyane and Levant, 
by the Constitution, should be presented to Captain Stew- 
art, in testimony of the sense they entertained of his gal- 
22 



254 CHARACTER OF OUR NAVY. 

lantry, and that of the officers, seamen, and marines, under 
his command on that occasion. 

On looking back to the conduct of the navy during the 
war with Great Britain, the mind is dazzled at the surpass- 
ing brilliancy of its career. Whatever doubts had existed 
of the capacity of the United States to maintain a navy in 
the presence of other maritime nations of the world, and 
especially of Great Britain, were dispelled forever. 

In our former wars, we had seldom to contend with the 
ships of nations not distinguished for their naval achievements, 
but now we were brought to cope with that power, which 
having triumphed over the fleets of France, of Spain, and of 
Holland, claimed to be " the mistress of the seas." All that 
skill or experience could achieve in the construction or man- 
agement of vessels of war, Great Britain had attained — 
while the lofty spirit of her officers, excited by a brilliant 
chain of victories, had by a rich harvest of honours and 
rewards, been carried to the highest pitch. These gave ad- 
vantages so decided, that, with the exception perhaps of our 
own naval officers, the expectation was almost universal, 
both at home and abroad, that on equal terms we would 
probably be defeated. The action between the Constitution 
and the Guerriere, opened the eyes of the world to the 
truth, that America could cope with Great Britain, even 
" on her own element," and from that hour the charm of 
British invincibility on the ocean was finally dissolved. 
Fortunately, the decision of the great question was not left 
to depend on a single action, over the result of which doubts 
might have been thrown, by attributing it to some of those 
accidental causes which the British naval writers have 
showed themselves so ingenious in urging as excuses for 
their defeats. The actions between the United States and 
the Macedonian, the Constitution and the Java, the Wasp 
and Frolic, and especially the victories of Perry and M'Do- 
nough, on Erie and Champlain, which, following in rapid 
succession, has, we are persuaded, fully settled the question, 
not only in America, but on the continent of Europe. We 



FEELINGS OF THE PEOPLE. 265 

believe that among all candid men, even in Great Britain, 
it is now conceded that the American navy, in the mate- 
rials, form and construction of her ships, the skill and gal- 
lantry of her officers, the sterling qualities of her seamen, 
and, above all, in the perfection of her gunnery, is in no 
respect inferior, and in some superior to their own. The 
fact that the British government has been engaged ever 
since the peace, in re-organizing her naval establishment, 
nearly on the model of our own, seems to us to be an offi- 
cial recognition of all that we have ever claimed on this 
subject. 

The peace of 1815, found in the heart and the mind of 
the country, but one intense aad absorbing feeling in favour 
of the navy. It had fought itself into the affections of the 
people. All doubt was at an end — all distrust for ever 
banished — and, thenceforward, the struggle of all parties 
seems to have been, who could do most for this establish- 
ment, now the cherished favourite of the government and 
the people of the United States. 







256 



AGGRESSIONS OF ALGIERS. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



War with Algiers, 1815. 

'N the year 1795, a 
treaty was conclud- 
ed between the U. 
S. of America, and 
the Dey of Algiers, 
in which the former 
were put upon a 
footing with other 
nations, on condi- 
tion of paying to 
the Dey, a yearly 
tribute of twelve 
thousand Algerine 
sequins, to be in- 
vested in naval 
stores. This treaty subsisted, without any infringement on 
the part of the Algerines, until some time in the month of 
July 1812, when the Dey, stimulated, probably, by the 
near prospect of a war between the United States and Eng- 
land, which he was encouraged in the belief would annihi- 
late the naval force of the former, and disable them from 
taking satisfaction, took an opportunity to violate its most 
important articles. He was probably further stimulated to 
this measure, by having little employment at that time for 
his cruisers, in consequence of just concluding a peace with 
Portugal, Mobile at the same time he was prevented from 
committing depredations upon his old enemies, the Sicilians, 
of whom the English had declared themselves the pro- 
tectors. 




ARROGANCE OF THE DEY. 257 

The pretence of his highness for this breach of his en- 
gagements, was that the cargo of the ship Alleghany, then 
just arrived, with naval stores, for the payment of the tri- 
bute stipulated in the treaty of 1795, did not contain such 
an assortment of articles as he had a right to expect. In 
consequence of this disappointment, the Dey, who was sub- 
ject to violent paroxysms of passion, became exceedingly 
outrageous, and told his minister of marine that the cargo 
should not be received ; that the ship should immediately 
quit Algiers, and that Colonel Lear, the American consul, 
should go with her, as he could not have a consul in his 
regency, who did not cause every article to be bought, as he 
ordered. Every attempt to explain, on the part of the con- 
sul, was without effect on the Dey, who either was, or af- 
fected to be extremely angry. A few days afterwards he 
made ademand of certain arrearages of tribute, to the amount 
of twenty-seven thousand dollars, the claim to which was 
founded on the difference between the solar and lunar years, 
the one consisting of three hundred and sixty-five, the other 
of three hundred and fifty-four days, creating a difference 
of half a year, in the lapse of seventeen years, which had 
expired since the conclusion of the treaty. This was the 
first time the distinction between the Christian and Ma- 
hometan year had ever been brought forward by his high- 
ness, and it is certain that it was insisted upon, in this in- 
stance, merely as furnishing a pretext for exacting money 
from the government of the United States, or, in case of a 
refusal, as furnishing an additional ground for a declaration 
of hostilities. The reasonings, remonstrances, and explana- 
tions of the consul were without effect, and he was at last 
given to understand, that if the money was not paid imme- 
diately, he would be sent to the marine in chains — the 
Alleghany and her cargo confiscated ; every citizen of the 
United States in Algiers condemned to perpetual slavery, 
and war forthwith declared. 

After various ineffectual attempts to negotiate a mitiga- 
tion of these demands. Colonel Lear finally received this 
22* 2h 



258 AMERICAN PREPARATIONS. 

definitive answer to his repeated applications, by his high- 
ness's droserman — " That he should to-morrow mornine 
pay into the treasury twenty-seven thousand Spanish dol- 
lars, which he (the Dey) claimed as the balance of annuities 
due from the United States, and then depart from the re- 
gency of Algiers, with his family, and all the citizens of the 
lliiited Stati's." On failure of payment, the consequences, 
which had at first been threatened, would most assuredly 
be inflicted. This message having been considered as con- 
clusive, the consul, desirous of averting these calamities 
from himself, his family, as well as a number of his country- 
men then in Algiers, made every effort to raise the money 
demanded. A merchant of Algiers, at length advanced it, 
on receiving bills on Joseph Gavino, American consul at 
Gibraltar, and it was paid into the treasury before the time 
specified in the Dey's message. Having committed the 
care of his property, which he was not permitted to attend 
to himself, to the agent-general of his Swedish majesty at 
Algiers, Colonel Lear embarked on board the Alleghany, 
with his family and about twenty others, for the United 
States. The Dey, immediately on his departure, com- 
menced hostilities upon our commerce, and these outrages 
remained unrevenged by the government of the United 
States, which could not send a force to the Mediterranean, 
in consequence of the war with Great Britain, declared in 
June following these transactions. 

Immediately, however, on the ratification of peace with 
Great Britain, the attention of Congress was called to a 
consideration of the conduct of Algiers, and the foregoing 
facts being sufficiently substantiated, war was declared to 
exist between the United States of America, and the re- 
gency of Algiers. Preparations were immediately made to 
follow up this declaration, and a squadron was fitted out 
under the command of Commodore Decatur, consisting of 
the Guerriere, Constellation, and Macedonian frigates, the 
Ontario and Epervier sloops of war, and the schooners 
Spark, Spitfire, Torch, and Flambeau. Another squadron. 



ALGERINES CHASTISED. 259 

under Commodore Bainbridgc, was to follow this armament, 
on the arrival of which, it was understood. Commodore 
Decatur would return to the United States in a single vessel, 
leaving the command of the whole combined force to Com- 
modore Bainbridge. 

The force under Commodore Decatur rendezvoused at 
New York, from which port they sailed the 20th day of 
April 1815, and arrived in the bay of Gibraltar in twenty- 
five days, after having previously communicated with Cadiz 
and Tangier. In the passage, the Spitfire, Torch, Firefly, 
and Ontario, separated at different times from the squadron, 
in gales, but all joined again at Gibraltar, with the excep- 
tion of the Firefly, which sprung her masts, and put back 
to New York to refit. Having learned at Gibraltar that 
the Algcrine squadron, which had been out in the Atlantic, 
had undoubtedly passed up the straits, and that informa- 
tion of the arrival of the American force had been sent to 
Algiers by persons in Gibraltar, Commodore Decatur de- 
termined to proceed without delay, up the Mediterranean, 
in the hope of intercepting the enemy before he could re- 
turn to Algiers, or gain a neutral port. 

The 17th of June, off Cape de Gatt, he fell in with and 
captured the Algerine frigate Mazouda, in a running fight 
of twenty-five minutes. After two broadsides, the Alge- 
rines ran below. The Guerriere had four men wounded by 
musketry — the Algerines about thirty killed, according to 
the statement of the prisoners, who amounted to four hun- 
dred and six. In this affair the famous Algerine admiral, 
or Rais, Hammida, who had long been the terror of this 
sea, was cut in two by a cannot-shot. 

On the 10th of June, off' Cape Palos, the squadron fell in 
with and captured an Algerine brig of twenty-two guns. 
The brig was chased close to the shore, where she was fol- 
fowed by the Epervier, Spark, Torch, and Spitfire, to whom 
she surrendered, after losing twenty-three men. No Ameri- 
cans were either killed or wounded. The captured brig, 
with most of the prisoners on board, was sent into Cartha- 



260 NEGOTIATIONS. 

gena, where she was claimed by the Spanish government, 
under the plea of a breach of neutrality. 

From Cape Palos, the American squadron proceeded to 
Algiers, where it arrived the 28th of June. Aware that a 
despatch-boat had been sent from Gibraltar, to inform the 
regency of his arrival, and having also learned that several 
Tartars had gone in search of the Algerines, to communi- 
cate the news, Commodore Decatur concluded that their 
fleet was by this time safe in some neutral port. He there- 
fore thought it a favourable time to take advantage of the 
terror which his sudden and unwelcome arrival had ex- 
cited, to despatch a letter from the president of the United 
States to the Dey, in order to afford him a fair opportunity 
to open a negotiation. The captain of the port was imme- 
diately despatched to the Guerriere, on the receipt of this 
letter, accompanied by Mr. Norderling, the Swedish consul ; 
and Commodore Decatur, who, with Mr. Shaler, had been 
empowered to negotiate a treaty, proposed the basis, on 
which alone he could consent to enter on the aifair of an 
adjustment. This was the absolute and unqualified relin- 
quishment of any demand of tribute on the part of the re- 
gency, on any pretence whatever. To this he demurred. 
He was then asked if he knew what had become of the 
Algerine squadron, and replied — "By this time it is safe 
in some neutral port." " Not the whole of it," was the 
reply. He was then told of the capture of the frigate, of 
the brig, and of the death of Hammida. He shook his head, 
and smiled with a look of incredulity, supposing it a mere 
attempt to operate on his fears, and thus induce an accept- 
ance of the proposed basis. But when the lieutenant of 
Hammida was called in, and the minister learned the truth 
of these particulars, he became completely unnerved, and 
agreed to negotiate on the proposed basis. He premised, 
however, that he was not authorised to conclude a treaty, 
but requested the American commissioners to state the con- 
ditions they had to propose. This was done, and the cap- 
tain of the port then reques-ted a cessation of hostilities, and 



NEGOTIATIONS. 261 

that the negotiation should be conducted on shore, the 
minister of marine having pledged himself for their security 
while there, and their safe return to the ships whenever 
they pleased. Neither of these propositions was accepted, 
and the captain was expressly given to understand, that not 
only must the negotiation be carried on in the Guerriere, 
but that hostilities would still be prosecuted against all ves- 
sels belonging to Algiers, until the treaty was signed by the 
Dey. 

The captain of the port and Mr. Norderling then went on 
shore, but the next day again came on board, with the in- 
formation that they were commissioned by the Dey to treat 
on the basis for which the commissioners of the United 
States had stipulated. A treaty was then produced, which 
the commissioners declared could not be varied in any ma- 
terial article, and that consequently, discussion was not 
only useless, but dangerous, on their part ; for if in the 
interim the Algerine squadron were to appear, it would 
most assuredly be attacked. On examining the treaty pro- 
posed, the captain of the port was extremely anxious to get 
the article stipulating for the restoration of the property 
taken by the Algerines during the war dispensed with, 
earnestly representing that it had been distributed into many 
hands, and that as it was not the present Dey who declared 
war, it was unjust that he should answer for all its conse- 
quences. The article was, however, adhered to by the 
American commissioners, and after various attempts to make 
a truce, as well as to gain time, it was at length settled that 
all hostilities should cease, when a boat was seen coming off 
with a white flag, the Swedish consul pledging at the same 
time his honour, that it should not be hoisted until the Dey 
had signed the treaty, and the prisoners were safe in the 
boat. The captain and Mr. Norderling then went on shore, 
and returned within three hours ; with the treaty signed, 
together with all the prisoners, although the distance was 
more than five miles. The principal articles in this treaty 
were, that no tribute, under any pretext, or in any form 



262 ADVANTAGEOUS TREATY. 

whatever, should ever be required by Algiers from the 
United States of America — that all Americans in slavery 
should be given up without ransom — that compensation 
should be made for American vessels captured, or property 
seized or detained at Algiers — that the persons and pro- 
perty of American citizens found on board an enemy's ves- 
sel should be sacred — that vessels of either party putting 
into port should be supplied with provisions at market price, 
and, if necessary to be repaired, should land their cargoes 
without paying duty — that if a vessel belonging to either 
party should be cast on shore, she should not be given up 
to plunder — or if attacked by an enemy within cannon- 
shot of a fort, should be protected, and no enemy be per- 
mitted to follow her when she went to sea within twenty- 
four hours. In general, the rights of Americans on the 
ocean and the land, were fully provided for in every in- 
stance, and it was particularly stipulated that all citizens 
of the United States taken in war, should be treated as 
prisoners of war are treated by other nations, and not as 
slaves, but held subject to an exchange without ransom. 
After concluding this treaty, so highly honourable and ad- 
vantageous to this country, the commissioners gave up the 
captured frigate and brig, to their former owners. To this 
they were influenced by a consideration of the great ex- 
pense it would require to put them in a condition to be sent 
to the United States — the impossibility of disposing of 
them in the Mediterranean, and by the pressing entreaties 
of the Dey himself, who earnestly represented that this 
would be the best method of satisfying his people with the 
treaty just concluded, and consequently the surest guarantee 
for its observance on his part. The policy of the measure 
we think sufficiently obvious, when it is considered that 
the Dey would most likely, in case of their refusal, have 
fallen a victim to the indignation of the people, and that, in 
all probability, his successor would have found his safety 
only in disowning the peace which had been made by his 
predecessor. There being, as we before stated, some dis- 



TUNIS MAKES SUBMISSION. 263 

pute with the Spanish authorities with regard to the legality 
of the capture of the Algerine brig, it was stipulated on the 
part of the American commissioners, in order to induce the 
Spaniards to give her up, that the Spanish consul and a 
Spanish merchant, then prisoners in Algiers, should be re- 
leased, and permitted to return to Spain, if they pleased. 

Commodore Decatur despatched Captain Lewis in the 
Epervier, bearing the treaty to the United States, and leav- 
ing Mr. Shaler at Algiers, as consul-general to the Barbary 
states, proceeded with the rest of the squadron to Tunis, 
with the exception of two schooners under Captain Gamble, 
sent to convoy the Algerine vessels home from Carthagena. 
He was prompted to this visit, by having been informed 
that a misunderstanding existed between our consul and the 
bashaw of Tunis, into the nature of which he considered 
himself bound in duty to inquire. Here he was officially 
informed by the consul of a violation of the treaty subsisting 
between the United States and the bashaw, first, in permit- 
ting two prizes of an American privateer to be taken out 
of the harbour by a British cruiser, and secondly, in per- 
mitting a company of merchants, subjects of Tunis, to take 
the property of an American citizen at their own price, and 
much below its real value. 

The truth of these allegations being thus officially verified, 
Commodore Decatur addressed a letter to the prime minis- 
ter of Tunis, demanding satisfaction for these outrages 
exercised or permitted by the bashaw, and a full restoration 
of the property thus given up or sacrificed. The bashaw, 
through the medium of his prime minister, acknowledged 
the truth of the facts, as well as the justice of the demands; 
but begged twelve months to pay the money. This was 
refused ; and on receiving assurances that it would be paid 
forthwith, the Commodore went on shore, where he received 
the visits of the different consuls. The brother of the prime 
minister of Tunis chanced to arrive with the money at this 
time, and seeing the British consul in conversation with 
Commodore Decatur, threw down the bags which contained 



264 TRIPOLI HUMBLED. 

it with great indignation, at the same time addressing the 
consul in English, which he spoke fluently, " You see, sir, 
what Tunis is obliged to pay for your insolence. You must 
feel ashamed of the disgrace you have brought upon us. 
You are very good friends now, but I ask you w'hether you 
think it just, first to violate our neutrality, and then to leave 
us to be destroyed, or pay for your aggressions." As soon 
as the money was paid, the bashaw prepared to despatch a 
minister to England, to demand the amount which he had 
been obliged to pay in consequence of this requisition of the 
American commodore. 

After adjusting these differences, the squadron proceeded 
to Tripoli, where Commodore Decatur made a similar de- 
mand for a similar violation of the treaty subsisting between 
the United States and the bashaw, who had permitted two 
American vessels to be taken from under the guns of his 
castle by a British sloop of war, and refused protection to 
an American cruiser lying within his jurisdiction. Restitu- 
tion of the full value of these vessels was demanded, and the 
money, amounting to twenty-five thousand dollars, paid by 
the bashaw into the hands of the American consul. After 
the conclusion of this aflfair, the American consular flag, 
which Mr. Jones, the consul, had struck, in consequence of 
the violation of neutrality above mentioned, was hoisted in 
the presence of the foreign agents, and saluted from the 
castle with thirty-one guns. In addition to the satisfaction 
thus obtained for unprovoked aggressions, the Commodore 
had the pleasure of obtaining the release of ten captives, two 
Danes, and eight Neapolitans, the latter of whom he landed 
at Messina. 

After touching at Messina and Naples, the squadron 
sailed for Carthagena on the 31st of August, where Com- 
modore Decatur was in expectation of meeting the relief 
squadron under Commodore Bainbridge. On joining that 
officer at Gibraltar, he relinquished his command, and sailed 
in the Guerriere for the United States, where he arrived on 
the 12th of November 1815. Every thing being done pre- 



EFFECT OF THE EXPEDITION. 265 

vious to the arrival of the second division of the squadron, 
under Commodore Bainbridge, that gallant officer had no 
opportunity of distinguishing himself. Pursuant to his in- 
structions, he exhibited this additional force before Algiers, 
Tunis, and Tripoli, where they w^ere somewhat surprised 
at the appearance of the Independence seventy-four, having 
always been persuaded that the United States were re- 
stricted by their treaties with England from building ships 
of that class. When Colonel Lear was consul at Algiers, 
he endeavoured to convince the ministers of the Dey that 
such was not the case ; but they always replied, " If you 
are permitted to build seventy-fours, let us see one of them, 
and we shall be satisfied." Commodore Bainbridge sailed 
from Gibraltar thirty-six hours before the Guerriere, and 
arrived at Boston the 15th of November. 

Thus was concluded an expedition in which, though few, 
perhaps no opportunities occurred for a display of the hardy 
prowess of our sailors, the nation acquired singular honour, 
in humbling and chastising a race of lawless pirates, who 
had long been the inveterate scourges of the Christian world. 
Independently of the glory thus accruing to the republican 
name, the increased reputation arising from this sudden and 
unlooked-for appearance of an American squadron immedi- 
ately after a war with Great Britain, we think, will be 
manifest. This circumstance gave them an idea of the 
power and resources of the United States altogether differ- 
ent from that which they before entertained ; and served to 
convince them of the danger of provoking their resentment, 
under an expectation of the destruction of their navy by 
any power whatever. That the assurance of an immediate 
war with England was what principally encouraged the 
Dey of Algiers to commence hostilities against the United 
States, under a conviction that our little navy would speed- 
ily be annihilated, is evident from the following fact. One 
of the Dey's officers one morning insinuated, whether true 
or false we cannot say, to the British consul at Algiers, that 
23 2 1 



266 ADVANTAGES ACCRUING. 

it was his fault that they declared war. " You told us," 
said he, " that the American navy would be destroyed, in 
six months, by you, and now they make war upon us with 
two of your own vessels they have taken from you /" 

It is well known that the states of Barbary paid little atten- 
tion to the faith of treaties, and that they professed a perfect 
contempt for that code which is called the law of nations, 
which, they said, was established without their consent, and 
consequently was not binding on them. We know that the 
piratical habits of these people were almost unconquerable, 
and their antipathy to the Christian name inveterate. But 
we also know that those whom no obligations can bind, are 
best restrained by their apprehensions of punishment when 
they offend. Fear is a potent auxiliary in the attainment 
of justice, as well as the prevention of offence, and the recol- 
lection of a chastisement, when it does not stimulate to re- 
venge, is 'generally effectual in preventing a repetition of 
those outrages which brought down the punishment. With- 
out calculating, therefore, on the good faith or the good will 
of the Barbary states, we cannot but perceive from their 
subsequent demeanour, that the display of our naval force 
in the Mediterranean, and the prompt energy of the distin- 
guished officer who directed it, has secured to the United 
States a lasting peace, unshackled by any degrading com- 
pliances on our part, and gained by an honourable exertion 
of force in a just cause. 

In addition to the positive advantages resulting from the 
operations of the American squadron in the Mediterranean, 
an American may well be proud when he reflects, that it 
was reserved for this free republic to bestow upon these 
enemies of mankind the chastisement demanded by their 
crimes. He may well exult in the recollection of having hum- 
bled these proud barbarians, that had so long been the terror 
of the Mediterranean, and the scourge of the Christian name. 
The prowess of these renowned freebooters had long been 
connected with the romantic exploits of chivalry, and is 
associated with our earliest recollections. The Christian 



THE MOORS. 267 

knight had always his fiercest encounters, his most despe- 
rate struggles with some '' paynim Moor" and though the 
reputation of the knight, as well as a due regard to poetic 
justice, rendered it indispensable that the Christian should 
triumph, still his triumph was always gained with infinite 
difficulty. A proof of the opinion long entertained of their 
prowess is, that they are everywhere represented, in the 
old legends, as of a gigantic stature. It is one of the errors 
of ignorance to make the body, rather than the mind, the 
criterion for heroism, and there is hardly a distinguished 
champion of the early ages that was not remarkable for the 
dimensions of his frame, because it was by this that the 
writers of romance endeavoured to give to their simple 
readers a more striking image of strength and ferocity. 

Independently of the reputation which the Moorish race 
sustains in the works of imagination, most familiar in our 
childhood, they possess also strong claims to historical re- 
nown. In Spain they long maintained a splendid empire, 
and the glory of Pelayo, of the Cid Rodrigo, and Gonsalvo, 
is principally derived from the agency of these heroes in 
the expulsion of the Moorish kings of Cordova and Grenada. 
Few have forgotten the fate of Don Sebastian, king of Por- 
tugal ; and none perhaps are ignorant of the discomfiture 
of Charles V., who, backed by half the power of Europe, 
and all the treasures of the new world, invaded Algiers, 
from whose territory he was driven after the loss of almost 
the whole of his army. Another example is that of Lewis 
XIV., who made attempts to humble the pride of these na- 
tions, but was never able to gain from them terms so ad- 
vantageous as those dictated by our commissioners. Nay, 
even the potent fleet of Lord Nelson failed, in a still more 
recent instance, in a similar attempt, after having previously 
succeeded in others, that were at that time considered 
almost desperate, but which have since been discovered to 
have owed their success to the deplorable imbecility and 
unskilfulness of his opponents. 

From the foregoing causes, as well as from the circum- 



268 AMERICAN PROWESS. 

stances of their having long been the terror of the mariner, 
and the scourge of the powers bordering on and navigating 
the Mediterranean, has arisen that feeling of vague, but 
overwhelming terror, with which the world had long con- 
templated these renowned barbarians. This feeling was 
perhaps stronger in this country, previously to the Tripolitan 
war, than anywhere else, and we contemplated these poor 
creatures through the same exaggerated medium we once 
did, and in some degree still do, more than one nation across 
the Atlantic. To the gallant navy which first dissolved the 
enchantment of British superiority, are we indebted for our 
emancipation from that of Algerine prowess, and for this, 
among other benefits, we are indebted to a race of admi- 
rable officers, who seemed to be conscious that whatever 
other men might be, they could not be more than their 
equals. They seem, indeed, even to have possessed that 
noblest species of confidence, which is not derived from any 
idea of what their enemies might be, but of what they 
themselves really were. 

In contemplating what was performed by our small 
force, conducted, as it was, with characteristic promptness 
and energy, we are called upon to compare it with what 
was done by the most powerful monarchs of Europe ; and 
the comparison is a subject of honest exultation. Perhaps 
to assume a superiority over these mighty potentates, who 
occupy so large a space in history, may be called boasting. 
So let it be. It is by performing such things that nations 
become illustrious, and it is by speaking of them as they 
ought to be spoken of, that courage and enterprise meet 
their reward, and emulation is awakened from its slumbers. 
The pride of our hearts is gratified with the knowledge that, 
while the corsairs laughed at the demands of a superior 
European fleet, carrying the descendants of De Ruyter and 
Van Tromp, they shrunk beneath the energy of a republi- 
can commodore, and gave up what they had never before 
yielded to any nation. In addition to this, both our pride 
and our humanity are solaced with the conviction that our 



EFFECTS OF THE TREATY. 



269 



ships of war, ennobled as they are by many other attri- 
butes, have, by this treaty with Algiers, become sanc- 
tuaries, not for robbers and assassins, but for the oppressed 
Christian slaves of all nations. 




23* 



270 



CONDITION OF THE NAVY. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Recent History and Present Condition of the Navy. 

RATULATORY 

testimonials of the 
most flattering na- 
ture, attested the na- 
tional feeling towards 
that gallant arm of 
the public defence, 
whose glorious deeds 
had been displayed 
upon every sea. But 
a period of tranquil- 
lity now succeeded 
to the gigantic war- 
fare that for a quar- 
ter of a century had 
convulsed the world, and which had compelled even our 
own country to engage as one of the combatants. Little 
opportunity has since existed for those brilliant actions, 
which had recently made the navy so popular, and given it 
so strong a hold on the good will of the nation. Public 
opinion had, however, been so fully enlisted in behalf of the 
navy, by its achievements during the two last wars, viz. 
those with Great Britain and Algiers, that it was justly 
considered the right arm of the national defence. When- 
ever, therefore, it was proposed to extend or encourage the 
navy, the whole nation was found to be earnest in its sup- 
port of the measure. 

The first fruit of this feeling was the act of 29th of April, 
1816, which appropriated " one million of dollars per an- 




INCREASE OF THE NAVY. 271 

num, for eight years, for the gradual increase of the navy ;" 
and which directed the President to cause to be built, in 
addition to the vessels heretofore ordered, " eight ships of 
the line, and nine frigates of 44 guns ;" which, with those 
of the same description already authorized, would give to 
the navy twelve ships of the line, and twenty frigates, ex- 
clusive of sloops of war, and other inferior vessels. 

It is worthy of remark, that public opinion had now un- 
dergone so thorough a revolution in relation to the navy, 
that it was found impossible to keep the zeal of the repre- 
sentatives of the people in its behalf within reasonable 
bounds. The appropriation of a million of dollars per an- 
num, for eight years, was found from experience to be 
greater than could be advantageously applied ; and after 
expending five millions, the remaining three millions were 
divided into annual appropriations of five hundred thousand 
dollars for six years. 

From this period, the navy was regularly increased, until 
the year 1827, when the whole appropriation of eight mil- 
lions of dollars was exhausted. The number of ships then 
built or building was as follows, viz. ; 
12 Ships of the Line, 
16 Frigates, 
16 Sloops of War, 
Besides Schooners and Steam Batteries. 

It was now considered that, during a period of profound 
peace, the protection of our commerce did not require the 
keeping in commission a greater number of vessels than one 
ship of the line, six frigates, ten sloops of war, and a few 
schooners. 

The plan was therefore adopted, of finishing and keeping 
under cover (where experience has proved that ship-timber 
can be preserved for any length of time) all the vessels 
thereafter to be built, ready to be launched and put into 
service at the shortest notice. It is much to be regretted 
that this plan had not been sooner adopted, as it would 
have kept in a state of perfect soundness several of our 



272 MEASURES IN REGARD TO THE NAVY. 

vessels of the first class, which were then lying in ordinary, 
undergoing a process which would make it necessary in a few 
' years to rebuild them entirely. In this state of things, the 
question came up before Congress during the session of 
1827, what further measures ought to be adopted in relation 
to the naval establishment ? It is worthy of remark, that 
while government was, with indiscriminate zeal, appropri- 
ating millions to the building of ships, no provision was 
made for dry-docks, rail-ways, or any of the auxiliaries of 
a naval establishment, which the experience of all maritime 
nations had proved to be indispensably necessary. These 
subjects, however, were now fully considered, and a bill 
was reported by the naval committee of the Senate, which 
proposed to appropriate five hundred thousand dollars per 
annum, for six years, to " the gradual improvement of the 
navy." The objects designated in the bill were — 1st. The 
laying up ship-timber for future use. 2d. The construction 
of dry-docks. 3d. A marine rail-way. 4th. The improve- 
ment of navy-yards. 5ih. The establishment of a naval 
academy; — all of which received the sanction of Congress 
and of the Executive, except the naval academy, which was 
lost in the House of Representatives. 

Provision, however, has been made for giving instruction 
to midshipmen by mathematical professors ; and naval ap- 
prentices are also received into service, and instructed in 
seamanship and tactics. 

Since the period above referred to, it appears that the 
navy has been languishing for want of support and patronage 
from the government and people, or, which is the same thing, 
the representatives of the people of the United States. In 
discipline, it is unequivocally declared by those who should 
be well informed on the subject, to have sensibly declined. 
In force it has scarcely advanced. By the recent able re- 
port of the Secretary of the Navy, (December 4th, 1841,) it 
appears that the navy of the United States is composed of — 

Eleven Ships of the Line ; of which one is rated for 120 
guns, and ten for 74 guns. 



ITS PRESENT FORCE. 273 

Fifteen Frigates of the First Class ; of which one is rated 
for 54 guns, and fourteen for 44 guns. 

Two Frigates of the Second Class, of 36 guns each. 

Eighteen Sloops of War ; of which eleven are rated for 
20 guns, two for 18 guns, and five for 16 guns. 

Two Brigs and four Schooners, rated for ten guns each. 

Four Steamers ; besides three store-ships, three vessels 
used as receiving vessels, and five small schooners. 

This force is very little superior to what we had fifteen 
years ago, the previous policy of the government in this 
respect having been wholly abandoned. 

This neglect of the navy is the more culpable, from the 
circumstance that, during this very period, every other 
maritime power, of any consequence, in the world has been 
steadily increasing its navy, and giving it the advantage 
of all recent improvements in arms and navigation. Steam 
vessels are claiming increased attention in Europe, and our 
own government appears at length to have become con- 
vinced of the importance of providing some vessels of this 
description. But, if we are to judge from the tone of the 
secretary's report, the whole system of management, with 
respect to the navy, requires a thorough reform ; and a con- 
siderable increase of our force is absolutely essential to our 
maintaining a respectable position among the nations of 
the world, and affording adequate protection to the Ameri- 
can flag. 

The secretary recommends the forming of a new code of 
laws for the government and regulation of the naval ser- 
vice ; a re-organization of the navy department ; the build- 
ing of steam-ships, and of frigates of the first class ; the 
establishment of higher grades in the naval service ; the 
employment of a small fleet for the training of oflicers ; a 
large increase of the marine corps ; and the establishment 
of naval schools. He urges these measures upon Congress 
with great earnestness and force of reasoning ; and it is to 
be hoped that his recommendations will be promptly acted 
upon, and that our American marine may be placed in a 

2 K 



274 



DESTINY OF THE NAVY. 



situation to maintain that noble rank among the navies of 
the world, which it has cost so much blood and so much 
treasure to attain. The deeds of our gallant tars are among 
the proudest of our national recollections. The navy should 
be the cherished favourite of the people. 




APPENDIX. 



(275) 



APPENDIX. 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 

Hornet and Penguin. 

In the action with the Penguin, a private marine of the Hornet, 
named Michael Smith, who had served under the gallant Porter, 
in the Essex, when she was captured by the British, received 
a shot through the upper part of the thigh, which fractured 
the bone, and neai'ly at the same moment had the same thigh 
broken immediately above the knee, by the spanker-boom of 
the Hornet, which was carried away by the enemy's bowsprit 
while a-foul of her. In this situation, while bleeding upon the 
deck, and unable to rise, he was seen to make frequent exertions 
to discharge his musket at the enemy on the topgallant forecastle 
of the Penguin. This, however, the poor fellow was unable to 
accomplish ; and was compelled to submit to be carried below. 

Cobbett. 
William Cobbet showed no small exultation in recapitulating 
the naval victories of the Americans. He was one day speaking 
somewhat boldly on the subject in the presence of an English 
officer, who pettishly observed, " There is good reason for it. I 
went on board their men-of-war after our defeat, and found half 
their sailors were English." " And had you not all English ?" 
asked the undaunted radical. 

Captain George Little. 
Among the vessels which were built by the state of Massachu- 
setts, during the War of the Revolution, was the sloop Winthrop. 
She was built in the then District of Maine, and for the express 
purpose of protecting our coasting trade, which had suffered much 
by the captures, &c. of the enemy. She mounted thirteen guns, 
and was commanded by Captain George Little, of Mansfield, who 
had been the first lieutenant of the ship Protector, John Fos- 
ter Williams, Esq., commander, and who, in our quasi war with 
France, in 1798, commanded the frigate Boston. His first lieuten- 
ant, in the Winthrop, was Edward Preble, of Portland, who also 
24 (277) 



278 APPENDIX. 

had been an officer on board the Protector, and who was after- 
wards Commodore Preble. The Winthrop was a very fortunate 
vessel, and more than answered the expectations of those who 
built her. She protected the coasting trade, made many prizes, 
and covered herself with glory. Soon after sailing on her first 
cruise, she fell in with two ships which made a formidable appear- 
ance, but boldly running down upon them, she captured them 
both. They proved to be two stout British letters of marque, and 
she immediately returned with them to Boston. She made a num- 
ber of prizes afterwards, and re-captured some American vessels. 
In one of her cruises, she re-captured a sloop belonging to the 
late William Gray, Esq., which had been taken by the British brig 
Meriam, of equal or superior force to the Winthrop, and with a 
prize-master and crew on board was ordered for Penobscot, to 
which place the Meriam herself had gone. Captain Little imme- 
diately resolved upon the daring plan of cutting her out. Dis- 
guising his vessel, so as to give her as much as possible the 
appearance of the prize sloop, he entered the harbour of Penob- 
scot in the evening ; as he passed the fort, he was hailed, and 
asked what sloop that was — he answered, " the Meriam's prize." 
It is said that the people in the fort had some suspicions of him, but 
they suffered him to pass. He then ran up towards the brig, and as 
he approached her, was again hailed, and gave the same answer. — 
" Take care," said they on board the Meriam, " you '11 run foul of 
us." He informed them that he had been ashore on a reef, and 
lost his cables and anchors, and requested them to throw him a 
warp, which was immediately done. The sloop was then hauled 
up to the brig, and Lieutenant Preble, as had been appointed, 
jumped on board with a number of men, who had their various 
duties assigned them — while some slipped the cables, others made 
sail, &c. Preble himself, with a few followers, entered the cabin, 
where the officers were just changing their dress, for the purpose 
of going on shore. They made some attempts to get their arms 
for defence, but were soon subdued. When they were coming 
out of the harbour, the fort fired upon them, but Captain Little 
judged it best not to return the fire — he kept steadily on his course 
and when out of reach of their shot, triumphantly let off" thirteen 
sky rockets. In the same cruise he took two other vessels, one of 
which was a schooner of eight guns, which he had driven ashore. 
He manned his boats, went on shore, made the crew prisoners, 
and got off" the schooner ; with his four prizes he returned to 
Boston. The five vessels entered the harbour together in fine 
style, with a leading breeze ; and a gallant show they made. 



NAVAL ANECDOTES, 279 

Commodore Perry. 
At the tremendous battle of Lake Erie, when in the sweeping 
havoc which was sometimes made, a number of men were shot 
away from around a gun, the survivors looked silently around to 
Perry, and then stepped into their places. When he looked at 
the poor fellows who lay wounded and weltering on the deck, he 
always found their faces turned towards him, and their eyes fixed 
on his countenance. It is impossible for words to heighten the 
simple and afiecting eloquence of this anecdote. It speaks volumes 
in praise of the heroism of the commander, and the confidence 
and affection of his men. 

Sudden Death. 
During the naval action on Erie, Perry observed that a brave 
and favourite sailor, then captain of a gun, found great difficulty 
in managing it, the firelock having been broken. Perry, approach- 
ing him in his usual affable and encouraging manner, inquired 
what was the matter. The honest tar, exhibiting signs of just 
vexation, turned round and exclaimed, "Sir, my gun behaves 
shamefully — shamefully." Then, levelling his piece, and taking 
aim, he raised himself up in a fine martial style, as if wishing to 
appear to the best advantage in the presence of the Commodore, 
when he was suddenly struck in the breast by a cannon ball, and 
he fell dead without a groan. 

Coolness in time of Danger. 
The second lieutenant of the Lawrence, standing close by 
Perry, was struck in the breast by a chain-shot, which, having 
passed through the bulwark, was so far spent as to have no other 
effect than to knock him down. The shot lodged in the bosom 
of his waistcoat. He fell, stunned by the violence of the blow. 
Perry approaching him, and perceiving no marks of a wound, 
observed that he thought he could not be hurt. Upon this, the 
lieutenant, having revived, pulled the shot out of his bosom, and 
exclaiming, " no sir, but this is my shot," thrust it, with sangfroid, 
into his pocket. 

The American Captain and the British Admiral. 
When, during the late war. Admiral Warren was lying in the 
Chesapeake, Captain Smith was sent by Commodore Stewart, 
then at Norfolk, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. The news 
had just arrived of the capture of the Java, and the Admiral, 
speaking of that event, asked Captain Smith how it happened 



280 APPENDIX. 

that our frigates were so successful in taking theirs. Captain 
Smith answered that he knew no reason for it, unless that we 
fought better. " No," said the Admiral, " that cannot be ; but the 
reason is, that two-thirds of your crews are British seamen." 
"Then," replied Captain Smith, "the other third being Americans, 
makes the whole difference." The Admiral attempted no further 
explanations or argument on the knotty subject. 

We doubt if the records of wit can produce a more happy re- 
partee. It was prompt and sharp ; and, at the same time, goes to 
the very marrow and heart of the question. It is one of those 
pushes that can neither be parried or returned. It closed the 
game ; the Admiral had not another move. 

Early American Heroism. 
During one of the former wars between Prance and England, 
in which the then Colonies bore an active part, a respectable In- 
divid ual, a member of the society of Friends, of the name of , 

commanded a tine ship which sailed from an eastern port to a 
port in England. This vessel had a strong and effective crew, 
but was totally unarmed. When near her destined port, she was 
chased, and ultimately overhauled, by a Erench vessel of war. 
Her commander used every endeavour to escape, but seeing, from 
the superior sailing of the Frenchman, that his capture was in- 
evitable, he quietly retired below. He was followed into the cabin 
by his cahin-boy, a youth of activity and enterprise, named Charles 
Wager : he asked his commander if nothing more could be done 
to save the ship ; his commander replied that this was impossible, 
that every thing had been done that was practicable, there was 
no escape for them, and they must submit to be captured. Charles 
then returned upon deck and summoned the crew around him ; 
he stated in a few words what was their captain's conclusion — 
then, with an elevation of mind, dictated by a soul formed for en- 
terprise and noble daring, he observed, " if you will place your- 
selves under my command, and stand by me, I have conceived a 
plan by which the ship may be rescued, and we in turn become 
the conquerors." The sailors no doubt feeling the ardour, and in- 
spired by the courage of their youthful and gallant leader, agreed 
to place themselves under his command. His plan was com- 
municated to them, and they awaited with firmness the moment 
to carry their enterprise into effect. The suspense was of short 
duration, for the Frenchman was quickly alongside, and as the 
weather was fine, immediately grappled fast to the unoffending 
merchant-ship. As Charles had anticipated, the exhilarated con- 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 281 

querors, elated beyond measure with the acquisition of so fine a 
prize, poured into his vessel in crowds, cheering and huzzaing ; 
and not foreseeing any danger, they left but few men on board 
their ship. Now was the moment for Charles, who, giving his 
men the signal, sprang at their head on board the opposing vessel ; 
while some seized the arms which had been left in profusion on 
her deck, and with which they soon overpowered the few men 
left on board, the others, by a simultaneous movement, relieved 
her from the grapplings which united the two vessels. Our hero 
now having the command of the French vessel, seized the helm, 
and placing her out of boarding distance, hailed, with the voice 
of a conqueror, the discomfited crowd of Frenchmen who were 
left on board the peaceful bark he had just quitted, and summoned 
them to follow close in his wake, or he would blow them out of 
water, (a threat they well knew he was very capable of executing, 
as their guns were loaded during the chase.) They sorrowfully 
acquiesced in his commands, while gallant Charles steered into 
port, followed by his prize. The exploit excited universal ap- 
plause. The former master of the merchant-vessel was examined 
by the Admiralty, when he stated tlie whole of the enterprise as 
it occurred, and declared that Cliarles Wager had planned and 
effected the gallant exploit, and that to him alone belonged the 
honour and credit of the achievement. Charles was immediately 
transferred to the British navy, appointed a midshipman, and his 
education carefully superintended. He soon after distinguished 
himself in action, and underwent a rapid promotion, until at 
length he was created an Admiral, and known as Sir Charles 
Wager. It is said, that he always held in veneration and esteem 
that respectable and conscientious Friend, whose cabin-boy he 
had been, and transmitted yearly to his old master, as he termed 
him, a handsome present of Madeira, to cheer his declining days. 

The Brave Mariner. 

In the year 1775, Captain , now of New London, then 

quite a young man, was a sailor on board a sloop from this port. 
On their return from the West Indies, having arrived at the east 
end of Montaug Point, they were boarded by a tender from the 
cutter commanded by Sir William Wallace, then stationed on 
this coast as a Guarda Costa. The weather was calm and still ; 
the sloop being unarmed was easily captured ; the son of Sir 
William Wallace with four others took possession of the sloop, 

and took out the crew, all but the captain, mate, and young , 

at the same time, informing them of the battle at Lexington, and 
24 * 2 1. 



282 APPENDIX. 

ordered her to proceed to Boston as a prize. The captured, as 
may be supposed, felt disconsolate at this unexpected seizure, 

almost in sight of their home. In this situation young 

proposed to the captain and mate, if they would stand by him he 
would retake the sloop. They however declined the enterprise, 
either from an unwillingness to take life which they supposed 
would be the consequence, or from doubts as to the actual state 
of hostilities. Young assured them he could effect it with- 
out bloodshed, but they refused to join in the attempt. It so hap- 
pened that there was but one gun on board. Young 

secreted the powder and ball. Pretty soon a boat with two men 
was seen approaching the sloop. Wallace armed his men with 
such weapons as they could find — the gun, harpoon and hand- 
spikes, and ordered the boat to keep off, which she did. Young 

deeming this the only chance to rescue the sloop, as Sir 

William Wallace was then lying with the cutter, becalmed at 
some distance to the eastward, conceived the bold expedient: 
he run out on the beam, plunged into the ocean, regardless of his 
life, swam to the boat, got on board and pulled for Block Island, 
where he found some militia who had repaired thither to take off 
the cattle ; he soon made known his errand to the commander, 
was furnished with men and two row-boats, and in a short time 
had possession of the sloop, with Sir William's son and his men, 
and towed them all safe into the port of New London, where he 
delivered the sloop to the owners, and consigned young Wallace 

and his crew to the civil authority. Afterwards young 

was appointed a midshipman on board a United States ship ; was 
promoted to sailing-master, from that advanced to a lieutenant, 
in which capacity he sailed under the valiant Paul Jones ; was 
afterwards transferred to another public ship, in which he was 
taken, carried into England, and put in Falkland prison, from 
which he made his escape, by digging a trench beyond the outer 
wall — fied to France, and from thence returned to America — took 
command of a privateer, and greatly annoyed the British com- 
merce, capturing several vessels, and bringing them safe into port. 

Lieutenant John Mayrant. 
As the frigate South Carolina, commanded by Commodore 
Gillon, was cruising between the Bahama Islands and the Florida 
Keys, it happened one night, (Lieutenant John Mayrant being 
officer of the deck,) that he was ordered to keep a good look-out 
and the lead a-going ; and a midshipman with a night-glass was 
placed at each quarter. About two hours before day, the one 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 283 

stationed on the starboard announced that he perceived a rock : 
upon a nearer inspection, it proved to be a fleet, and on drawing 
still nearer, a Jamaica fleet. About four, A. M., the frigate was 
close aboard four of them, and another ship was to be seen at 
about five miles to windward; to secure the whole prize was now 
the object of the Commodore, but one which there was no pos- 
sibility of attaining without having recourse to artifice; and, after 
a hasty consultation with his officers, the following line of con- 
duct was determined on : — In the first place, the frigate, having 
British colours flying, hailed the four ships nearest to her, ordering 
them to heave-to, and promising to send a boat aboard of them. 
Lieutenant Mayrant was then directed to take a barge, and with 
twenty- four choice men and about four or five marines, himself, 
as well as the marines, being all in British uniform, to make for 
the furthest vessel ; he did so, and when arrived under her stern, 
and rounding upon her quarter, in answer to the captain's inquiry 
as to what boat that was, replied that It was the barge of the 
D'Artois, commanded by Captain M'Bride ; the captain ordered 
him to keep off", threatening to fire into him. Lieutenant May- 
rant, in return, commanded him to heave a rope immediately, and 
asking if he would dare to fire into His Majesty's boat, ordered 
his men to pull alongside : on hearing this, the British ship, with- 
out further dispute, hove a rope, and manned her sides; such 
being the ceremony usually observed in receiving an officer. 
Lieutenant Mayrant immediately slept on board, having previous- 
ly ordered his men not to follow, but on receiving a concerted 
signal ; the captain received him with great politeness, and the 
usual inquiries having been made and answered. Lieutenant May- 
rant desired to see his papers, in order to examine them. No 
sooner had the captain gone below, in the search of them, than 
Lieutenant Mayrant's men, receiving the expected signal, stept 
on board, to the number of twenty, all armed with cutlasses, and 
having pistols concealed under their jackets. The captain having 
returned. Lieutenant Mayrant, after examining the papers, inquired 
how many men he had on board ; and on his replying that there 
were forty, ordered him to take his papers and twenty men, and 
to go with them on board of the frigate. He replied, " why, sure- 
ly, sir, you do not mean to impress my men at sea?" Lieutenant 
M. replied, " certainly not ; but Captain M'Bride being a very par- 
ticular man, wishes to examine the men and papers himself." 
The captain still hesitated, upon which Lieutenant Mayrant, re- 
iterating his order, made a sign to his men to draw their sabres, 
on perceiving which, the captain, not choosing to risk a contest, 



284 APPENDIX. 

obeyed ; Lieutenant M. ordered him to row off, while he would 
undertake to carry the ship down to the frigate. As soon as the 
captain was fairly off, Lieutenant M., ordering the remainder of 
the crew below, reversed the British colours — at which sight, the 
consternation of the captain, who from the barge was a spectator 
of what passed, may be better conceived than expressed. He 

declared it to be a d d Yankee trick ; but the deception was 

discovered too late, and he found himself obliged to go on board 
of the frigate. By this means. Commodore Gillon was enabled 
to capture the whole fleet, consisting of five Jamaica-men, heav- 
ily laden with sugar and rum. 

Lieutenant Mayrant remained in possession of the ship which 
he had been instrumental in taking, and which proved to be the 
Nelly, Captain Foble, with fourteen eighteen-pound carronades, 
and a complement of forty men, bound from Jamaica to Glasgow, 
with four hundred hogsheads of sugar, and one hundred of rum. 
After having been in command of her two or three days, and 
sailing in the Gulf Stream, it happened that a man whom he had 
ordered to heave the lead was by a pitch of the ship thrown from 
the main chains overboard; the ship was immediately hove to, 
and several coops and chests thrown overboard to him ; it was 
then attempted to lower the boats to his relief, but, on trial, they 
were found to have remained dry so long, as to be unfit for the 
purpose. Lieutenant M. was then obliged to make sail on the 
ship, as she had drifted considerably, from having her sails aback ; 
he then, by making a stretch and a tack, succeeded in coming 
up with the man, and brought him to about twenty feet on his 
weather-bow. Lieutenant M. then called to some of his men to 
jump overboard and carry him a rope : but, though none refused, 
they hesitated so long, that Lieutenant Mayrant, perceiving that 
there was no time to be lost, as the ship was drifting fast, took 
hold of a rope himself, jumped overboard, and swimming up to 
the man, put it in his hands. The ship, being at this time in the 
Gulf Stream, with all her sails aback, drifted so rapidly, that Lieu- 
tenant M. and the sailor were drawn at the end of the rope con- 
siderably under water ; the sailor now letting go the rope, clung 
around Lieutenant M.'s neck, who found himself obliged also to 
let go his hold, in order to extricate himself, which he succeeded 
in doing ; as soon as they rose to the surface, they both then swam 
to a hen-coop, of which they took hold, one at each end : on this 
coop they remained three hours and a half Meanwhile, the fri- 
gate South Carolina perceiving the Nelly, (which was about ten 
miles distant from her,) waring and steering, and putting out 



NAVAL ANECDOTES'. 285 

signals of distress, concluded that the prisoners on board had 
risen and retaken the ship, but on making up to her, was inform- 
ed that Lieutenant M. and one of the men were overboard. The 
direction being pointed out in which they were last seen, they 
were soon after perceived by a man at the mast-head of the 
frigate, who pointed tlieni out ; the frigate as soon as she came 
near them, lowered five boats, which spread themselves, and 
about half an hour before dark. Lieutenant M. and the sailor 
were taken up by one of them ; the sea was at this time running 
so high that the boats could not discern them, and the sun was 
down. 

Commodore Tucker. 
We remember well hearing this venerable man relate his re- 
ceiving his first commission in our navy. He was at Marblehead, 
soon after his return from England, and at the time Washington 
was at Cambridge. Tucker, then a young man, was cutting 
wood before his mother's door, when a gaily-dressed officer rode 
down the street. It was in the dark of evening, and the officer, 
seeing Tucker thus employed, rode up to him, and asked him if 
he could inform him where the honourable Samuel Tucker resided. 
Tucker, astonished, answered him in the negative, saying, there 
is no such man lives here ; there is no other Sam Tucker in this 
town but myself Immediately on hearing this, the officer raised 
his beaver, and, bowing low, presented him his commission in the 
navy. 

George Roberts. 

George Roberts and myself [a correspondent of the Natchez 
Ariel] were fellow-sailors with Paul Jones in his expedition against 
the British, in 1778, when he terrified the commeixe of that coun- 
try, by his constantly hovering about the coasts of Scotland and 
Ireland, though having only a ship of eighteen guns. When 
Jones landed on the coast of Scotland, and took away all the 
family plate of the Earl of Selkirk, Roberts was one of the 
sailors who marched into the castle while that strange deed was 
done ; I remained on board the ship. The plate was all brought 
on board, and safely disposed of, though, as it turned out, much 
to the Commodore's loss, as he had afterwards to buy it up in 
Paris, to return it to the owner. He intended to capture the 
Earl, and detain him as a hostage, but being absent from home 
at the time we landed, it was prevented. 

In the next year, 1779, Roberts and I sailed again with our 
brave commander from Brest, in France, in the frigate Good Man 



286 APPENDIX. 

Richard, carrying forty guns, and four hundred and twenty men, 
or thereabouts, as near as I can recollect. She was an old ship, 
not fit for the hard service we put her to, as it afterwards came 
out. On the 22d September, off Flamborough Head, which is a 
high rock that ovei'looks the sea, we fell in with the Baltic fleet, 
under the convoy of the frigate Serapis, of fifty-eight guns, and 
the sloop Countess of Scarborough, a very heavy ship, but I do 
not recollect having heard how many guns she carried. Just as 
the moon rose, at eight in the evening, the enemy fired his first 
broadside, when within pistol-shot of us — and now a most mur- 
derous scene began. The action raged with horrid violence, and 
the blood ran ankle-deep out of the ship's scuppers. Our rigging 
was cut up to atoms, and finally both ships took fire — so that 
friend and foe were obliged to rest from fighting, that they might 
extinguish the flames. The Richard being old, was soon shot 
through, and began to sink. In this awful condition, Jones's 
voice, like the roaring of a lion, was heard above the din of the 
battle, ordering to "grapple with the enemy." We accordingly 
made our ship fast to the Serapis : and it was easily done, as the 
two were so near to each other, that when I drew out the rammer 
of the gun I belonged to, the end of it touched the side of the 
Serapis ! Being thus fast and safe, we fought without any resting, 
until nearly all our guns were burst or dismounted — the ship 
nearly full of water — our decks covered with dead and dying, 
and the ship cut up into splinters. 

While in this awful and desperate situation, my friend Roberts, 
seeing how near spent we were, jumped on the main yard of our 
vessel, which projected directly over the decks of the Serapis, 
with a bundle of hand-grenades. These he contrived to throw 
down upon the Serapis' deck, and succeeded in blowing up two 
or three of their powder-chests ; the explosion of which killed 
and wounded a great many men. The captain of the Serapis, 
perceiving his activity, ordered some shot to be fired at Roberts. 
One of them struck a rope by which he supported himself, and 
caused him to fall upon the gunwale of the enemy's ship, which 
I observing, caught hold of him and pulled him aboard. He im- 
mediately got up on the same yard-arm again, with a fresh sup- 
ply of hand-grenades, and made such dreadful havoc on the 
enemy's deck, that in a few minutes they surrendered. For this 
great bravery, Paul Jones publicly thanked him on the quarter- 
deck of the Serapis, the next afternoon, giving him double the 
allowance of grog for the week afterwards. 

It was near midnight when the action terminated. The top of 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 287 

Flamborough Head was covered with people watching the en- 
gagement, and no doubt the sight must have been grand. The 
next day our ship sunk, being fairly battered to pieces by the 
enemy's shot, as they poured a shockingly murderous fire into 
us all the while. Commodore Dale, who died in Philadelphia, a 
few years ago, was Jones's second lieutenant, and was badly 
wounded about the middle of the battle. He was ordered to go 
below, though he still wished to fight upon deck. After he went 
down, he was very useful in taking care of a large number of 
English prisoners we had on board. We had 174 men killed, and 
nearly as many wounded and missing. The Serapls had 135 men 
killed, and about 80 wounded. 

Captain Pearson, the English commander, fought nobly, and 
defended his ship to the last. He had nailed his flag to the mast, 
and was afraid to haul it down when he surrendered, as none of 
his men would go up to tear it away, because they dreaded the 
sharp-shooters in our round-tops. So when he concluded to give 
up, he mounted the gunwale just by where I was standing, and 
called out in a loud voice, " We surrender, we surrender." Cap- 
tain Jones, not hearing this, I left my gun and ran to him and 
told him of it. He instantly ordered the firing to cease, and the 
flag hauled down — but no Englishman would do it, as musket- 
shots were still exchanged between the two vessels. On hearing 
this, George Roberts jumped aboard the enemy's ship, mounted 
the tottering shrouds, and hacked down the British ensign from 
its proud height. As it fell, what I considered as very remarkable, 
a capful of wind took it, and laid it directly at Jones' feet, at the 
same time spreading it nearly all over the dead body of Lieutenant 
Grubb, who, in the heat of the fight, was still lying on deck. 
When the crew of the Richard saw the flag fall, they gave thir- 
teen tremendous cheers, at which Captain Pearson shrunk back 
from his high stand into the shadow of the mizzen-mast. 

When we returned from this cruise, being affected in my hear- 
ing by a splinter, which struck me under the ear, I left the ser- 
vice, and saw and heard no more of my friend Roberts from that 
time until I saw his death inserted in your paper. He was a true, 
honest man, and bold to a degree not to be daunted. He was 
younger than I — and yet he has closed his eyes in that sleep to 
which all of us, soldiers or not, must one day give up. 

Ignorance of Fear. 
A child of one of the crew of the British ship Peacock, dur- 
ing the action with the United States' vessel Hornet, amused 



288 APPENDIX. 

himself with chasing a goat between decks. Not in the least ter- 
rified with destruction and death all around him, he persisted, till 
a cannon-ball came and took off both the hind legs of the goat ; 
when, seeing her disabled, he jumped astride her, crying, "Now 
I 've caught you." 

American Navy. 
The Barbary States had entertained the most contemptuous 
ideas of our naval power; and they used sneeringly to say, 
" Show us one of your 74's, and then we will believe that the 
English permit you to build them." Of course, never were men 
more utterly astonished than they were, when they beheld a large 
squadron from the United States riding in the ports of Algiers, 
Tunis, and Tripoli ; and that too, immediately after a war with 
Great Britain, which they imagined would entirely crush the 
naval power of America. Perhaps the English encouraged such 
ideas ; for they were afterwards reproached with having deceived 
them, and led them into a war with the United States. One of 
the Dey's officers is said to have addressed the British consul at 
Algiers, as follows : " You told us you should destroy the Amer- 
ican navy in six months ; and now they make war upon us with 
two of your own vessels, which they have taken from you" 

Perry and his Oncers insensihJe to Danger. 

During the battle of Erie, the Lawrence, which Commodore 
Perry was on board of, was so shattered as to be entirely un- 
managable, and only nine of her large crew remained. In this 
dilemma, Perry resolved to hoist the American flag on board a 
more fortunate vessel. For this purpose he entered an open boat, 
to pass over to the ship Niagara; and though broadsides were 
levelled at him, and showers of musketry from three of the ene- 
my's ships, he remained standing in the stern of the boat, until 
absolutely pulled down by the crew. The Americans watched 
him with breathless anxiety, as he passed through this scene of 
peril, and with a transport of joy they saw his flag hoisted at the 
mast-head of the Niagara. Soon after he entered that ship, a 
captain of one of the guns, having had all his men shot down, 
approached him, and laying his hand upon his shoulder, exclaim- 
ed, "For God's sake, sir, give me some more men." When all 
sense of personal danger was thus swallowed up in eagerness for 
victory, it is not surprising that Commodore Perry was able to 
write his strikingly laconic letter : " Dear Sir, We have met the 
enemy, and they are ours." 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 289 

Patriotic Sailor. 
During the blockade of New London, in the late war, the cele- 
brated Dr. F , of Hartford, Conn., made a visit to the former 

place, with a view of examining the state of the fortifications, 
&c. While there, he concluded to deliver a discourse. A crowded 
audience attended, principally composed of sailors and soldiers 
on duty there. The Doctor took for his text, " Fear God, and 
honour the king." In the course of his sermon, he had frequent 
occasion to repeat the words of his text. One of the sailors be- 
longing to the Macedonian was observed to be very restless ; at 
length, on the Doctor's once more repeating the words, " honour 
the king," the tar could no longer restrain his indignation ; he 
rose up and candidly exclaimed, " Fear God, and honour the 
Congress, but let the king alone ;" at the same time looking very 
angrily at the preacher. The audience were much agitated, and 
a warrant officer stepping up to the sailor, ordered him to be 
quiet, or he would turn him out of the church.' The sailor sternly 
replied, "if the lubber says so again, I'll pull him out of his bunk." 

Looking Aloft. 

Some years ago. Dr. Godman of Philadelphia, (now deceased,)* 
related that in a voyage to sea in early life, he had seen a lad 
who had just begun to be a sailor, going out to some projecting 
part of the rigging. His arms were supported by a spar, and he 
was looking below him for a rope which ran across, on which his 
feet should be. The rope flew from side to side, and it was evi- 
dent that the poor fellow was becoming dizzy, and in danger of 
falling, when the mate shouted to him with all his force, " Look 
aloft ! you sneaking lubber .'" By thus turning away his eyes 
from the danger, the dizziness was prevented, and he found his 
footing. And this incident, the Doctor said, often recurred to his 
mind in after life, when his troubles grew heavy upon him, and 
he hardly could find groimd whereon to tread. At such time he 
heard the mate's shout in his ears, and turned his eyes " aloft " to 
the prize upon which he had fastened his hopes. We cannot part 
with this beautiful illustration, without asking each of our readers 
to apply it to a still nobler purpose: to steady themselves in all 
the tempests of adversity, by looking towards that life in which 
there is rest and peace evermore — and when our flesh and heart 
shall fail us, and we can find no support under our feet, to seek 
it by " looking aloft " to him, " who is the strength of our hearts, 
and our portion for ever." 

25 2m 



290 APPENDIX. 

The Yankee and British Officer. 

During the last American war, a small schooner laden with 
silks, wines, and brandy, belonging to Stonington, Conn., was 
hailed on her homeward passage from France by a British armed 
brig, when the following dialogue took place between the com- 
manding officer of the brig and the master of the schooner : 

Officer. Schooner, ahoy ! 

Yankee. Hallow ! 

Officer. Who commands that schooner ? 

Yankee. Brother Jonathan use tu, but I du now. 

Officer. Brother Jonathan ! Who the d — 1 is brother Jonathan 1 

Yankee. Why you must be a darn'd fool, not to know Brother 
Jonathan — every body in town knows him. 

Officer. Send your boat on board, 

Yankee. I don't know whether I shall or not; for the boat's 
all soggy, and I han't got no new clothes — Brother Jonathan 's got 
a new coat : if he 's a mind to go, he may, but I 'm sure I shan't. 

Officer. Strike ! 

Yankee. Strike ! Why I han't got nobody here to strike, but 
dad ; he 's cooking, and he 's crazy ; and if I strike him, he '11 
strike right back agin ; so it 's no use. 

Officer. What are you loaded with ■? 

Yankee. Bale-goods, and hens, and hens' husbands, and hob- 
goblins, and long-faced gentry. 

Officer. Where are you bound to ? 

Yankee. S-t-o-n-i-n-g-t-o-w-n. [By this time, Brother Jonathan 
had boarded the brig, where he was compelled to remain until 
the schooner was examined by the British officer.] 

Officer. Where 's your " bale-goods ?" 

Yankee. There they be. [Pointing to some bundles of clap- 
boards and shingles, which he took with him on his outward pas- 
sage, as a covering for his cargo.] 

Officer. You blockhead, do you call them bale-goods 1 

Yankee. Why sartain ! don't you 1 

Officer. Where 's your " hens and hens' husbands ?" 

Yankee. There they be, in that-are coop there. 

Officer. Where 's your " hob-goblins V 

Yankee. There they be, in that-are tother great large coop 
there. 

Officer. Where 's your " long-faced gentry V 

Yankee. There they be, in that-are pigstye. 

Officer. Have you got any thing to drink on board! 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 291 

Yankee. We had some rum when we came away, but the 
cag's way down under the load, and if you try you can't git it; 
so it 's no use. 

The British officer having received but little satisfaction, and 
having no doubt become disgusted at the seeming ignorance of 
the Yankee, returned on board of his brig ; and, after ordering 
Brother Jonathan a dozen stripes to teach him wisdom, left the 
poor simple creatures to take care of themselves ! A few days 
afterwards, the vessel arrived at Boston with a cargo valued at 
one hundred thousatid dollars ! 

The Wounded. Sailors. 
During the war, it will be remembered, a bloody combat took 
place off the southern part of Nantucket, between the American 
privateer Neufchatel, and the boats of the British frigate Endymion. 
The wounded of both parties were landed at Nantucket. Among 
them were two messmates, one of whom had his under jaw dread- 
fully shattered by a musket-ball, and the other was so wounded 
in the wrist as to render necessary the amputation of his hand. 
Soon after the requisite surgical operations had been performed, 
they were invited to dine at a friend's house, where they were ob- 
served to stick by each other with peculiar tenacity. The com- 
pany fell to ; but our maimed heroes were respectively disabled 
from performing those manual and maxillary exploits which were 
exhibiting around them. After having complacently surveyed 
the scene without any offer of assistance from the busy guests, 
whose diffidence perhaps outweighed their inclinations— he with 
one flipper, thus sternly, though with much point and humour, 
addressed his broken-jawed companion : — " I say, Jack, since you 
can't grind, nor I carve, and the land-lubbers are all tucking the 
beef under their jackets, what say you for splicing ^ — if you HI cut 
for me, IHl chew for you /" 

The Cabin-Boy, or the Unfortunate Blaze. 
Early in the year 1777, as a British frigate was cruising between 
New York and Delaware Bay, she captured an American sloop, 
bound from St. Eustatia to Philadelphia, by a singular accident. 
At three in the morning, says the narrator, (a British officer,) a 
blazing light, apparently close to us, was discerned through a 
dense fog : the helm was instantly put-up, and in two minutes 
we were along-side of the sloop. No sooner had the crew been 
brought on board the frigate, than they assailed the cabin-boy, 
and would have handled him very roughly, if we had not inter- 



292 APPENDIX. 

fered. Having, it may be conjectured, his mind strongly impress- 
ed with his customary morning task, he had risen in his sleep, 
struck a light, and kindled the wood-shavings he had laid over- 
night in the grate for cooking. But for this sudden illumination, 
our Yankee guests might have taken their breakfasts in their own 
way, on board their sloop, instead of being indebted to the tar- 
nation tories, as they styled us, for one they could little relish. 
Having delivered her of a few puncheons of rum, continued the 
writer, as we had caught her in a blaze, she was sentenced to be 
burnt ; her crew remaining on board the frigate as prisoners of 
war. 

Origin of the Name of the Ship " Le Bon Homme Richard." 

The late Captain John Paul Jones, at the time he was attempt- 
ing to fit out a little squadron during the Revolutionary War, in 
one of the ports of France, to cruise on the coast of England, 
was much delayed by neglects and disappointments from the 
Court, that had nearly frustrated his plan. Chance one day 
threw into his hands an old Almanac, containing Poor Richard's 
Maxims, by Dr. Franklin. In that curious assemblage of useful 
instructions, a man is advised, " if he wishes to have any business 
faithfully and expeditiously performed, to go and do it himself; — 
otherwise, to send." Jones was immediately struck upon reading 
this maxim, with the impropriety of his past conduct in only send- 
ing letters and messages to Court, when he ought to have gone 
in person. He instantly set out, and by dint of personal repi^e- 
sentation procured the immediate equipment of the squadron, 
which afterwards spread terror along the eastern coasts of Eng- 
land, and with which he so gloriously captured the Serapis, and 
the British ships of war returning from the Baltic. In gratitude 
to Dr. Franklin's maxim, he named the principal ship of his 
squadron after the name of the pretended almanac-maker, Le 
Bon Homme Richard, Father Richard. 

British Gratitude. 

A British frigate sailing up Delaware Bay, in the spring of 1777, 
descried a vessel making towards them, as if they had been 
friends, which, when within reach of the frigate's guns, obeyed 
the signal and came-to. She was the schooner Raven, of Nan- 
tucket, commanded by Captain Jenkins, a Quaker. Scarcely had 
the British officer, with the boat's crew, boarded and taken pos- 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 293 

session of the Raven, when the frigate struck on Brandywine 
Shoals. Various plans were resorted to, to lighten her and get 
her off: the water was started from the butts of the upper tier, 
and it was proposed to throw the guns overboard. In this ex- 
tremity, the boat's crew returned on board the frigate, where their 
presence was required ; the officer only remaining on board of 
the prize. Jenkins, the master of the schooner, a powerful man, 
raised the prize-master in his arms, and held him up as if he had 
been an infant : " Friend," said he, " I have only to throw thee 
overboard, and return to Philadelphia, but I will not take advan- 
tage of thy distress. I will go on board the frigate, and act the 
part of a friend, by using my best endeavours to free her of her 
peril." He went, and by his assistance and intelUgence the frigate 
was once more brought into deep water ; which, without his aid, 
could not have been accomplished. 

Captain Jenkins was a man of an uncommonly large stature 
and athletic make ; but mild and gentle in his deportment. He 
displayed feats of strength on board the frigate, which entitled 
him to a place in the foremost rank of those whose surprising 
muscular powers have acquired them celebrity. Coffin, the mate, 
possessed a more vigorous mind, and of the two was the most 
interesting. This man, without money in his pocket, had landed 
in Boston, in his early youth, and, penetrating into the interior, 
had spent several years among the Indian tribes of both Americas, 
studying their manners, and conforming himself to their usages. 
He had visited the greater portion of those tribes ; and his details 
respecting them, and what he had seen besides, were a constant 
fund of entertainment to his enemies ; whilst he, as a prisoner, 
was pining inwardly of griefs. He wore an air of tranquil con- 
tent, and stifled his sorrows in the effiarts he made to contribute 
to their amusement. 

Their schooner had been to Philadelphia with a cargo of dried 
fish, and was returning with a lading of flour, then much wanted 
at Nantucket, which is too barren to raise corn. Friend Jenkins, 
in the simplicity of his heart, supposed that he had merely to re- 
late his artless tale, of the necessities of his fellow-islanders, when 
he would be allowed to proceed. He did not remind them of the 
services he had rendered ; nor did they think, that but for him, 
they would have been obliged to be contented with the scanty 
accommodations of a few small boats. The schooner was old 
and crazy, and would bring little or nothing in New York, al- 
ready glutted with prizes of this description ; and the gift would 
have been of minor importance, even with the addition of a part 

25* 



294 APPENDIX. 

of her cargo, if a feeling of gratitude had existed in their minds. 
But the barbarous usages of war ordered it otherwise. She had 
carried a supply to an enemy's port, and was to be delivered over 
to the court of vice-admiralty at New York. The Captain and 
crew were confined as prisoners of war ; and before the frigate 
returned from her next cruise, were all swept off by the conta- 
gious fever which then raged in the jail of New Yorlc ! 

A Sailor'' s Dream. 

Captain N , of the United States Navy, a highly meritorious 

officer, was ordered in the year 1819, to take out the flag-ship to 
the West Indies. It was, I [a correspondent of the New York 
American] believe, the Constellation. At the island of St. Thomas, 
several of our vessels of war were to rendezvous ; and Commo- 
dore Perry would there come on board the Constellation, and 
take the command of the squadron, for the purpose of scouring 
the pirates from the haunts they infested. Perry had sailed a 
short time before in the corvette John Adams. Captain N. sailed 
on slowly, annoyed by head-winds and detained by calms. One 
night, he dreamed he was standing on his quarter-deck, admiring 
the view of sea and sky, when he suddenly observed that sort of 
confusion at the gangway which announces the arrival of a visiter. 
He looked in that direction, and saw advancing Captain Gordon, 
who had died some years before in the Mediterranean service. 
He felt, as we usually do when we dream of the departed, a con- 
sciousness that they are dead, yet no surprise to see them alive, 
and performing all the actions of living men — discrepancies that 
dreams alone can reconcile. Gordon politely saluted him, and 
then inquired " whither he was bound ]" Captain N. answered, 
" I am going out as Perry's captain, who will hoist his flag on 
board at St. Thomas." "No," said Captain Gordon, "that you 
must not expect to see, for Perry now belongs to my squadron; 
look round, and you will be convinced." He then pointed over 
the side of the ship. Captain N. looked in the direction desig- 
nated, and saw what appeared to be an island, with a town and 
fort ; flags of various vessels and of the fort were hoisted half- 
mast high ; minute-guns were firing ; a vessel lay out in the road, 
at a distance from the land, also with marks of mourning ; — pre- 
sently, two or three boats shot into view from the side of the 
vessel nearest the land, containing officers, and rowed slowly by 
with muffled oars: then another boat with music and muffled 
drums, playing a dead march ; and last of all, came a boat with 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 295 

a coflan, covered with black, a military hat and sword lying on it, 
and surrounded by several officers, seemingly in deep grief. He 
saw the procession glide with measured strokes towards the 
town, and plainly heard the mingled sounds of bells ringing, mu- 
sic playing, and the cannon firing. He continued looking, lost in 
anxiety and wonder, when some accidental noise in the ship 
aroused him from his sleep. He felt his mind so strongly impressed 
with this awful dream, that to sleep again was quite impossible : 
he lay restless till the morning ; he then assembled his officers, 
and told them all the particulars — for sailors are proverbially 
superstitious. They agreed to put down the day of the month, &c. 

After a few days' more sailing, they made the island of St. 
Thomas, where lay the corvette John Adams. A boat soon put 
off from her, when they were informed that Commodore Perry 
had died on board, of yellow fever, and been actually buried on 
shore, with a procession of boats, and on the very day of the 
month on which Captain N. had had the wonderful dream. 

I may have made some unimportant errors in this account, of 
time or place, as it was told to me seven or eight years ago ; but 
my memor}' as to the essentials is correct ; and I believe I tell it, 
(without any attempt at making a fine story,) exactly as Captain 
N. told it hunself to me. 

Intrepidity of Captain Biddle. 

Hearing that two deserters from his vessel were at Lewistown, 
in prison, an officer was sent on shore for them, but he returned 
with information that the two men, with some others, had armed 
themselves, barricaded the door, and swore they would not be 
taken ; that the militia of the town had been sent for, but were 
afraid to open the door, the prisoners threatening to shoot the 
first man who entered. Captain Biddle immediately went to the 
prison, accompanied by a midshipman, and calling to one of the 
deserters, whose name was Green, a stout, resolute fellow, order- 
ed him to open the door ; he replied that he would not, and if he 
attempted to enter, he would shoot him. Ho tlien ordered the 
door to be forced, and entering singly, with a pistol in each hand, 
he called to Green, who was prepared to fire, and said, " Now, 
Green, if you do not take good aim, you are a dead man." 
Daunted by his manner, their resolution failed, and the militia 
coming in, secured them. They afterwards declared to the officer 
who furnished this account, that it was Captain Biddle's look and 
manner which had awed them into submission, for tliat they had 
determined to kill him as soon as he came into the room. 



296 APPENDIX. 



Paul Jones. 



After Paul Jones's crew of the Ranger privateer, from Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire, had landed at Lord Selkirk's, in Scot- 
land, in May 1778, stripped the house of its plate, and carried it 
on board, the ship lay-to, while Captain Jones wrote a letter to 
his lordship, which he sent on shore, and in which he ingenuously 
acknowledged that he meant to have seized and detained him as 
a person of much consequence to himself, in case of a cartel ; 
but disclaiming, at the same time, any concern in taking off his 
plate, which, he said, was done by his crew, in spite of his remon- 
strances; who said they were determined to be repaid for the 
hardships and dangers they had encountered in Kirkcudbright 
bay — and in attempting, a few days before, to set fire to the ship- 
ping in the harbour of Whitehaven. Captain Jones also informed 
his lordship that he had secured all his plate, and would certainly 
return it to him at a convenient opportunity. This he afterwards 
punctually performed, by sending it to Lord Selkirk's banker, in 
London. This fact, authenticated by Lord Selkirk himself, is to 
be found in Gilpin's Tour to the Lakes in Scotland. 



The Young American Tar. 

While the fi-igate United States was lying in the harbour of 
Norfolk, some time anterior to the declaration of war in 1812, a 
little boy in petticoats was in the habit of accompanying his mo- 
ther, a poor woman, who frequently visited the ship to wash for 
some of the crew. The lad, whose name was John Kreamer, soon 
became a favourite with the sailors ; and it was determined by 
them, if his mother would consent, to adopt him as one of their 
number. He came on board, and recommended himself by his 
activity and shrewdness to the favour of every one. War was 
subsequently declared against Great Britain, and the frigate sailed 
upon a cruise, in which she captured the enemy's frigate Mace- 
donian. As the two vessels were approaching each other. Com- 
modore Decatur, who was standing upon the quarter-deck, watch- 
ing with his glass the movements of his adversary, noticed that 
little Jack appeared anxious to speak to him. " What do you 
want "!" said Decatur. Jack coolly answered, that " he had come 
to ask that his name might be enrolled on the ship's books!" 
" For what purpose ?" said the Commodore. " Because," replied 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 297 

Jack, " I want to draw my share of the prize-money." Pleased 
with the boy's confident anticipation of victory, Decatur imme- 
diately gave orders to have his name registered ; and when the 
prize-money allowed by Congress was distributed. Jack received 
his proportion. From that time he was regarded by the Commo- 
dore with more than ordinary interest, was taken into his cabin, 
and prepared for the important duties of a higher station. He 
was constantly about Decatur's person, and acted as the coxswain 
of his own barge. So soon as his age would justify an applica- 
tion to the Navy Department for a midshipman's warrant, it was 
made, and promptly complied with. Little Jack, as he was for- 
merly styled by the sailors, was thus transformed into Mr. Krea- 
mer, and was with Decatur in the President when she was cap- 
tured, and in the Guerriere in the expedition to Algiers. He 
afterwards sailed in the Franklin 74, with Commodore Stewart, 
to the Pacific Ocean. That was his last cruise. He was upset 
in one of the ship's boats by a sudden squall in the harbour of 
Valparaiso, and sunk to the bottom before any assistance could 
be afforded. 

Fighting Quaker. 

In the American war, a New- York trader was chased by a 
small French privateer, and having four guns, with plenty of 
small-arms, it was agreed to stand a brush with the enemy rather 
than be taken prisoners. Among several other passengers was 
an athletic Q,uaker, who, though he withstood every solicitation 
to lend a hand, as being contrary to his religious tenets, kept 
walking backwards and forwards on the deck, without any ap- 
parent fear, the enemy all the time pouring in their shot. At 
length, the vessels having approached close to each other, a dis- 
position to board was manifested by the French, which was very 
soon put in execution ; and the Quaker, being on the look-out, 
unexpectedly sprang towards the first man that jumped on board, 
and grappling him forcibly by the collar, coolly said, " Friend, 
thou hast no business here," at the same time hoisting him over 
the ship's side. 

Origin of "Uncle Sam*^ 

Much learning and research have been exercised in tracing the 
origin of odd names, and odd sayings, which, taking their rise in 
some trifling occurrence or event, easily explained or well under- 
stood for a time, yet, in the course of years, becoming involved 

2m 



298 APPENDIX. 

in mystery, assume an importance equal at least to the skill and 
ingenuity required to explain or trace them to their origin. " The 
Swan with two necks " — " The Bull and Mouth" — "All my eye, 
Betty Martin," and many others, are of this character — and who 
knows but, an hundred years hence, some " learned commentator" 
may puzzle his brain to furnish some ingenious explanation of the 
origin of the national appellation placed at the head of this article. 
To aid him, therefore, in this research, I will state the facts as 
they occurred under my own eye. 

Immediately after the declaration of the last war with England, 
Elbert Anderson, of New- York, then a Contractor, visited Troy, 
on the Hudson, where was concentrated, and where he purchased, 
a large quantity of provisions — beef, pork, &c. The inspectors 
of these articles at that place were Messrs. Ebenezer and Samuel 
Wilson. The latter gentleman (invariably known as " Uncle Sam") 
generally superintended in person a large number of workmen, 
who, on this occasion, were employed in overhauling the provi- 
sions purchased by the contractor for the army. The casks 
were marked E. A. — U. S. This work fell to the lot of a facetious 
fellow in the employ of the Messrs. Wilson, who, on being asked 
by some of his fellow- workmen the meaning of the mark, (for the 
letters U. S., for United States, were then almost entirely new to 
them,) said "he did not know, unless it meant Elbert Anderson 
and Uncle Sam" — alluding exclusively, then, to the said " Uncle 
Sam" Wilson. The joke took among the workmen, and passed 
currently ; and " Uncle Sam" himself being present, was occasion- 
ally rallied by them on the increasing extent of his possessions. 

Many of these workmen beino- of a character denominated 
" food for powder," were found shortly after following the recruit- 
ing drum, and pushing toward the frontier lines, for the double 
purpose of meeting the enemy, and of eating the provisions they 
had lately laboured to put in good order. Their old jokes of' 
course accompanied them, and, before the first campaign ended, 
this identical one first appeared in print — it gained favour rapidly, 
till it penetrated and was recognised in every part of our country, 
and will, no doubt, continue so while the United States remain a 
nation. It originated precisely as above stated ; and the writer 
of this article distinctly recollects remarking, at a time when it 
first appeared in print, to a person who was equally aware of its 
origin, how odd it would be should this silly joke, originating in 
the midst of beef, pork, pickle, mud, salt, and hoop-poles, eventu- 
ally become a national cognomen. 



NAVAL ANECDOTES. 299 'W 

/ 



Powder and Balls. 

Let ancient or modern history be produced, they will not afford 
a more heroic reply than that of Yankee Stonington, to the British 
commanders. The people were piling the balls which the enemy 
had wasted, when the foe applied to them — " We want halls ; will 
you sell them /" They answered, '■'■we want powder; send us powder, 
and we HI return your balls." 

Female Patriotism. 

The following anecdote, which is too well authenticated to be 
disputed, furnishes one instance, among thousands, of that heroic 
spirit and love of liberty, which characterized the American fe- 
males during the struggle for independence. 

"A good lady, in 1775, lived on the seaboard, about a day's 
march from Boston, where the British army then was. By some 
unaccountable accident, a rumour was spread in town, and coun- 
try, in and about there, that the regulars were on a full march for 
that place, and would probably arrive in three hours. 

" This was after the battle of Lexington, and all, as might be 
well supposed, was in sad confusion : some were boiling with 
rage, and full of fight ; some, in fear and confusion, were hiding 
their treasures ; and others flying for life. In this wild moment, 
when most people, in some way or other, were frightened from 
their propriety, our heroine, who had two sons, one about nine- 
teen years of age, the other about sixteen, was seen preparing 
them to discharge their duty. The eldest she was able to equip 
in fine style: she took her husband's fowling-piece, 'made for 
duck or plover,' (the good man being absent on a coasting voyage 
to Virginia) and with it the powder-horn and shot-bag. But the 
lad thinking the duck and goose shot not quite the size to kill 
regulars, his mother took a chisel, cut up her pewter spoons, 
hammered them into slugs, and put them into his bag, and he set 
off in great earnest, but thought he would call one moment and 
see the parson, who said, 'Well done, my brave boy! God pre- 
serve you !' and on he went in the way of his duty. The young- 
est was importunate for Ids equipments, but his mother could find 
nothing to arm him with, but an old rusty sword. The boy 
seemed rather unwilling to risk himself with this alone, but lin- 
gered in the street, in a state of hesitation, when his mother thus 
upbraided him : ' You John H*****, what will your father say, if 



300 APPENDIX. 

he hears that a child of his is afraid to meet the British 1 — go 
along : beg or borrow a gun, or you will find one, child : some 
coward, I dare say, will be running away : then take his gun, and 
march forward ; and if you come back, and I hear you have not 
behaved like a man, I shall carry the blush of shame on my face 
to the grave.' She then shut the door, wiped the tear from her 
eye, and waited the issue. The boy joined the march. Such a 
woman could not have cowards for her sons. Instances of refined 
and delicate pride and affection occurred, at that period, every 
day, in different places ; and, in fact, this disposition and feehng 
were then so common, that it now operates as one great cause 
of our not having more facts of this kind recorded. What few 
are remembered should not be lost. Nothing great or glorious 
was ever achieved, which women did not act in, advise, or con- 
sent to. 

Naval Pun. 

A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally 
take oflT their shirts on going into action, was answered, that 
" they were unwilling to have any check to fighting." 

Captain Pierce, 

Captain Pierce, lately arrived at New- York, after bringing his 
vessel to an anchor, is said to have ordered an Irishman to throw 
over the buoy. The captain then went below, but coming on 
deck soon aft:er asked the other if he had thrown over the buoy: 
he replied, "I could not catch the boy, so I throwed over the 
old cook!" 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 



COLUMBIA'S NAVAL HEROES. 

While Europe displaying her fame-claiming page, 

And vaunting the proofs of her high elevation, 

Exultingly shows us, just once in an age, 

Some patriot-soul'd chieftain the prop of his nation ; 

Columbia can boast, of her heroes a host, 

The foremost at Duty's and Danger's proud post. 

Who full often have won upon ocean's rough wave, 

The brightest leav'd laurel that e'er deck'd the brave. 

By freedom inspired and with bosoms of flame. 
They hurl'd on the foe all the battle's dread thunder. 
Till vanquish'd and humbled, he shook at their name, 
O'erwhelm'd with confusion, with fear, and with wonder ; 
No age that has flown, such a band e'er has known. 
Who made firmness and skill and mild manners their own, 
And each trait of the warrior so closely entwin'd. 
With the virtues that grace and ennoble the mind. 

Their kindness the hearts of their captives subdued, 

Who sunk 'neath their arms when the life-streams were flowing, 

And their conquest- wove wreaths not a tear has bedew'd 

But that which Humanity smiles in bestowing ; 

The world with one voice bids their country rejoice. 

As with blushes it owns that these sons of her choice 

For valour and feeling have gain'd the rich prize. 

And stand first midst the first that live under the skies. 

Their splendid achievements shall long string the nerves 

Of all who the blessings of freemen inherit ; 

And theirs be the honours such merit deserves, 

And dear to each bosom their death-daring spirit ; 

The poet's best strain, shall their mem'ries maintain. 

And aflfection embalm them to Time's latest reign. 

While rous'd by their praises, our sons shall aspire, ^ 

To rival their actions and glow with their fire. 

26 (301) 



302 APPENDIX. 



THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION. 

Argo of Greece, that brought the fleece 

To the Thessalian city, 
As we are told, by bards of old, 

Was sung in many a ditty; 
But Yankees claim a prouder name 

To spur their resolution. 
Than Greece could boast and do her most — 

The frigate Constitution. 

When first she press'd the stream's cool breast, 

Hope hail'd her pride of story ; 
Now she o'erpays hope's flatt'ring praise, 

By matchless deeds of glory ; 
Of all that roam the salt sea's foam. 

None floats to Neptune dearer, 
Or fairer shines in fame's bright lines, 

Or more makes Britain fear her. 

'Neath Hull's command, with a tough band, 

And nought beside to back her. 
Upon a day, as log-books say, 

A fleet bore down to thwack her; 
A fleet, you know, is odds or so. 

Against a single ship, sirs; 
So cross the tide, her legs she tried. 

And gave the rogues the slip, sirs. 

But time flies round, and soon she found. 

While ploughing ocean's acres, 
An even chance to join the dance. 

And turn keel up, poor Dacres; 
Dacres, 'tis clear, despises fear, 

Q,uite full of fun and prank is. 
Hoists his ship's name, in playful game, 

Aloft to scare the Yankees. 

On Brazil's coast, she rul'd the roast. 
When Bainbridge was her captain; 

Neat hammocks gave, made of the wave, 
Dead Britons to be wrapp'd in; 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 303 

For there, in ire, 'midst smoke and fire, 

Her boys the Java met, sirs. 
And in the fray, her Yankee play, 

Tipp'd Bull a somerset, sirs. 



Next on her deck, at Fortune's beck, 

The dauntless Stewart landed; 
A better tar ne'er shone in war. 

Or daring souls commanded ; 
Old Ironsides, now once more rides. 

In search of English cruisers ; 
And Neptune grins, to see her twins, 

Got in an hour or two, sirs. 

Then raise amain, the joyful strain, 

For well she has deserv'd it, 
Who brought the foe so often low, 

Cheer'd freedom's heart and nerved it; 
Long may she ride, our navy's pride. 

And spur to resolution ; 
And seamen boast, and landsmen toast, 

The FRIGATE CONSTITUTION. 



THE UNCOURTEOUS KNIGHT, AND THE 
COURTEOUS LADY. 

For a nautical knight, a lady — heigho ! 

Felt her heart and her heart-strings to ache; 
To view his sweet visage she look'd to and fro; — 
The name of the knight, was James Lucas Yeo, 

And the lady — 'twas she of the Lake. 

" My good, sweet Sir James," cried the lady so fair, 

" Since my passion I cannot control. 
When you see my white drapery floating in air. 
Oh ! thither, and quickly I prithee repair ^ 

And indulge the first wish of my soul," 



304 APPENDIX. 

Sir knight heard afar, of the lady's desire, 

And sprightly and gay made reply — 
" As your heart, lovely maid, doth my presence require, 
I assure you mine burns with an answering fire, 

And quick to your presence I '11 fly." 



From Ontario's margin the lady set sail, 
To meet the bold knight on that sea : 
She dreamt not that he in his promise would fail. 
And leave a fair lady alone to bewail; — 
Yet no knight far or near could she see. 



Impatient to meet him no longer she'd stay, 

Resolv'd o'er the waters to roam: 
" Oh ! say, have you heard of my brave knight I pray, 
He promis'd to meet a fair lady to-day, 

But I fear he's to Kingston gone home." 

At last she espied him — what could sir knight do? 

He fidgeted — ran — and he tack'd in and out, 
And kept far aloof — yet he promised to woo ; 
She hail'd him — " Sir knight — won't you please to heave-to 1 

What a shame a fair lady to flout!" 

But away ran sir knight — the lady in vain 

Her oglings and glances employed ; 
She aim'd at his heart, he aim'd at her brain, 
She vow'd from pursuing she'd never refirain; 

And the knight was most sadly annoy'd. 

At length from the lady, the knight got him clear. 

And obtain'd for a season some rest ; 
But if the fair lady he ever comes near, 
For breaking his promise he'll pay pretty dear — 

The price Captain Chauncey knows best. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 305 



ODE ON OUR NAVAL VICTORIES. 

A century had Britain held 
The trident of the subject sea, 
And all that time no eye beheld 
Her flag strike to an enemy. 

France left her mistress of the main ; 
Van Tromp no longer swept the sea; 
And the proud crest of haughty Spain 
Bow'd to her great supremacy. 

The far-famed Hellespont she plough'd, 
And made the crescent wax more pale; 
W^hile Mussulmans before her bow'd, 
Who scorn'd the Christian's God to hail. 

By east and west, by north and south, 
By every sea and every shore, 
Her mandates at the cannon's mouth 
Her wooden walls in triumph bore. 

Where'er the blue wave weltering flow'd, 
Where'er a merchant vessel sail'd. 
Her red-cross flag in triumph rode. 
Her red artillery prevail'd. 

Amid the ice of Greenland's seas ; 
Amid the verdant southern isles, 
Where'er the frigid waters freeze, 
Where'er the placid ocean smiles; 

Her navy bore her swelling fame. 
Afar and near triumphantly. 
And Britons claim'd the proudest name — 
The sov'reigns of the trackless sea. 

But there was rising in the west 
A nation little known in story. 
That dared that empire to contest, 
And cross her in the path of glory. 
26* 2o 



306 APPENDIX, 

That scorn'd to crouch beneath the feet 
Of England's lion stern and brave ; 
But vent'rous launched her little fleet, 
Her honour and her rights to save. 

Hard was the struggle, rude the shock. 
The New World 'gainst the stubborn Old! 
A dread encounter ! — rock to rock ; 
The Yankee, and the Briton bold. 

O ! — then was seen a glorious sight, 
No eye that lives e'er saw before : 
The Briton's sun went down in night — 
The Yankee's rose, to set no more! 

And that proud flag which undisturb'd, 
For ages, at the mast-head flew, 
And the old world's puissance curb'd, 
Struck to the prowess of the new. 

And, where the red-cross flag had braved 
The dastard world for ages past, 
Our stars and stripes in triumph wav'd 
High on the proud top-gallant-mast. 

And there they wave by day and night, 
While sparkle Heaven's eternal fires, 
Emblems of that resistless might, 
Which daring Liberty inspires. 



SAILOR'S ELEGY ON THE FATE OF THE WASP. 

O ! when in some illustrious fight, 
Stout warriors yield at Fate's rude call, 
They fall, like shooting stars at night, 
And brighten as they fall. 

A thousand tongues their deeds relate. 
And with the story never tire, 
A country mourns their noble fate. 
And ladies weep, and men admire. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 307 

But dreary is the fate of those 
I mourn, in this rough sailor strain, 
Who perish'd — how, no mortal knows, 
And perish'd all in vain. 

Who in our country cannot tell, 
How Blakely brought the red-cross low, 
And twice triumphantly did quell 
The prowess of a valiant foe? 

Who has not heard of his brave men, 
All valiant hearts of steiling gold, 
Who braved the lion in his den, 
And turn'd his hot blood into coldl 

Who has not wished that they were here, 
Escap'd the ocean's perils rude, 
To share our country's welcome cheer. 
And reap a nation's gratitude 1 

But they will never come again 
To claim the welcome of their home ; 
Affection looks for them in vain ; 
Too surely they will never come. 

Far distant from their native land. 
They perish'd in the yawning deep. 
Where there was none to stretch a hand, 
And none their fate to weep. 

No ear their dreary drowning cry. 
Heard o'er the desert wave ; 
Their dying struggle met no eye, 
No friendly aid to save. 

And when they perish'd none can tell, 
Nor where their bones are laid — 
The spot Affection loves so well. 
No mourner's step will tread. 

No tender friend will ever go 

To seek the spot where they abide, 

Nor child, or widow, full of woe, 

Tell how, and when, and where they died. 



308 APPENDIX. 

Alas! they have no church-yard grave, 
No mound to mark the spot; 
They moulder in the deep, deep wave, 
Just where — it matters not. 

They perish' d far away from home, 
And few will weep these sailors bold, 
For ere the certain news shall come. 
Our feelings will grow cold. 

By slow degrees hope will expire. 
And when the anxious feeling's o'er. 
Sad Memory will quench her fire. 
And sorrow be no more. 

Save where some pale and widow'd one. 
By grief, or madness cross'd, 
Shall cling to one dear hope alone, 
And hope, though hope be lost. 

By fond Imagination led. 

Or idle visions driven, 

O ! she will ne'er believe him dead. 

Till they do meet in Heaven. 



SONG. 

A pleasant new song, chanted by Nathan Whiting, (through his nose) for the 
amusement of the galley-slaves on board the Phoebe, who were allowed to sing 
nothing but Psalms. 

Oh ! Johnny Bull is much perplex'd. 
And what d'ye think 's the matter? 

Because the Yankee frigates sail 
Across the salt sea water. 

For Johnny says the Ocean's mine. 

And all the sailor lads too ; 
So pay us tax before you trade, 

And part of each ship's crew. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 309 

" What, pay you tax," says Jonathan, 

"For sailing on the water I 
" Give you our lads of Yankee breed ! 

"I'd sooner give you a halter. 

"Free trade and sailors' rights, John Bull, 

"Shall ever be my toast; 
Let Johnny but these rights invade, 

"And Johnny Bull I'll roast." 

John didn't mind, but took our ships. 

And kidnapp'd our true sailors; 
And Jonathan resolv'd to play 

The d 1 among the whalers. 

Away went frigates four or five. 

To cut up Johnny's trade. 
And long before the year was out 

The squire grew sore afraid. 

Some found frigates, some found sloops, 

Belonging to John's navy; 
And some they took, and some they burnt, 

And some sent to old Davy. 

The saucy Essex, she sail'd out, 

To see what she could do; 
Her captain is from Yankee land, 

And so are all her crew. 

Away she sail'd so gay and trim 

Down to the Gallipagos, 
And toted all the terrapins, 

And nabb'd the slipp'ry whalers. 

And where, d'ye guess, we next did gol 

Why down to the Marquesas; 
And there we buried under ground 

Some thousand golden pieces; 

Then sail'd about the ocean wide, 

Sinking, burning, taking. 
Filling pockets, spilling oil, 

While Johnny's heart was aching. 



310 APPENDIX. 

At length he muster'd up some spunk, 

And fitted out three ships, sir: 
The Phoebe, Cherub, and Raccoon, 

To make the Yankees skip, sir. 

Away they scamper'd 'round Cape Horn 

Into the South Sea Ocean, 
To catch the saucy Yankee ship, 

They had a mighty notion. 

North, east, and west, and likewise south, 

They fumbled all around ; 
"Why, where the d 1 can she be. 

That she cannot be found?" 

At length to Valparaiso bay. 

They came in mighty funk; 
The Yankee boys were then on shore. 

Some sober, and some drunk. 

Some rode horses, some rode mules, 

And some were riding asses ; 
Some tippling grog, some swigging wine. 

Some dancing with the lasses. 

The signal made, all hands on board. 

Each man unto his station ; 
And Johnny he came swaggering by. 

But met some botheration.* 

The Yankee lads all ready were, 

With pistol, sword, and gun. 
In hopes John Bull would run on board, 

To have a bit of fun : 

But John got clear the best he could. 

And soon came to an anchor. 
And hoisted up a printed flag,t 

As big as our spanker. 

* The Phoebe, in entering the port of Valparaiso, nearly ran aboard of the 
Essex, by accident, as Captain Hillyar said. 
tThe flag bearing captain Hillyar' s long motto. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 311 

Some swore it was a morning prayer; 

Some swore 'twas Greek or German; 
But Nathan Whiting* spelt it out, 

And said it was a sermon. 

And thus long time in merry mood, 

All side by side we lay, 
Exchanging messages and songs. 

In Valparaiso bay. 

At last John Bull quite sulky grew, 

And call'd us traitors all, 
And swore he'd fight our gallant crew. 

Paddies, and Scots, and all. 

Then out he went in desperate rage, 

Swearing as sure as day, 
He'd starve us all, or dare us out 

Of Valparaiso bay. 

Then out he sail'd in gallant trim. 

As if he thought to fright us. 
Ran up his flag, and fired a gun, 

To say that he would fight us. 

Our cables cut, we put to sea. 

And ran down on her quarter; 
But Johnny clapt his hehn hard up, 

And we went following after. 

Says general Wynne, and squire Roach,t 

And many more beside. 
We wish those English boys had stay'd, 

We 'd show them how to ride. 

In haste to join the Cherub, he 

Soon bent his scurvy way, 
While we return'd, in merry glee, 

To Valparaiso bay. 



* Nathan was, we understand, a tall long-sided Yankee, and reckoned the 
best scholar of the whole ship's crew. 
t Two sailors nicknamed by the crew. 



312 APPENDIX. 

And let them go — to meet the foe 
We'll take no further trouble, 

Since all the world must fairly know, 
They '11 only fight us — double. 

Ne'er mind, my boys, let's drink and sing, 
" Free trade and sailors' rights ;" 

May liquor never fail the lad 
Who for his country fights. 

Huzza, my lads — let 's drink and sing ! 

And toast them as they run — 
Here's to the sailors and their king. 

Who'll fight us — two to one;" 



SONG. 

A Yankee song for the amusement of the crews of his Britannic majesty's 
ships PhcEbe and Cherub. Attempted by general Wynne, who is "a bloody 
bad singer." 

" Ye tars of our country, who seek on the main, 
Redress for the wrongs that your brothers sustain, 
Rejoice and be merry, for bragging John Bull 
Has got a sound drubbing from brave captain Hull. 

The bold Constitution, a ship of some fame, 
(Sure each jolly tar must remember her name) 
On the nineteenth of August o'ertook the Guerriere, 
(A frigate once captur'd by John from Mounseer.) 

At five past meridian the action begun, 

('T was before John had learn'd from our fingates to run) 

So back'd his maintopsail, quite tickled to find, 

A Yankee for fighting, so stoutly inclin'd. 

Proud Dacres commanded the enemy's ship. 
Who often had promis'd the Yankees to whip ; 
But it seems he had reckon'd without his good host, 
As he found on that hot bloody day, to his cost. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 313 

That boasting commander, his crew first address'd, 
(It was partly made up of Americans press'd;) 
Says lie, " my brave lads, see our wish is fulfill' d, 
For 'tis better to capture a ship, than to build. 

And you who are tired of our boatswain's whip, 
And sigh to return to some vile Yankee ship, 
Ten minutes or less, of our fierce British fire. 
Will give me that ship — and give you your desire." 

Our drum beat to quarters, each jolly tar hears, 
And hails the glad tidings with three hearty cheers ; 
All eager for battle to quarters we fly. 
Resolving to conquer that ship — or to die. 

So at it we went, in a deluge of fire, 
Each party too stubborn an inch to retire; 
Balls, grape-shot and langrage promiscuously fly, 
While the thunder of cannon fills ocean and sky. 

At a quarter past five our shot told so well. 
That the enemy's mizzenmast totter'd and fell. 
And while, eager to board him, for orders we wait. 
His foremast and mainma,st both shar'd the same fate. 

Our cabin had now from his shot taken fire, 
Yet danger but kindled our courage the higher: 
'Twas quickly extinguished, and Dacres' lee gun 
Proclaim'd his ship ours and the bloody fight done. 

The prize we then boarded, all arm'd in a boat. 
But found her so riddled she 'd scarce keep afloat. 
Fifteen of her seamen lay dead in their gore. 
And wounded and dying left sixty-four more. 

Our loss was but seven. Heaven rest their brave souls, 

For over their bodies the green ocean rolls ; 

And seven, who wounded, will long live to tell. 

How they got these brave scars that become them so well 

Huzza for the can, boys, come give us a pull. 
Let 's drink a full bucket to brave Captain Hull ; 
And when next to meet us the enemy dare, 
God grant in his mercy that we may be there." 

27 2p 



314 APPENDIX. 



CARPE DIEM. — SEIZE THE DEY 

The dey of Algiers, not being afraid of his ears, 
Sent to Jonathan once for some tribute; 
" Ho ! ho !" says the Dey, " if the rascal don't pay, 
"A caper or two I'll exhibit." 

" I 'm the Dey of Algiers, with a beard a yard long, 
" I 'm a mussulman too, and of course very strong : 
" For this is my maxim, dispute it who can, 
" That a man of stout muscle 's, a stout mussulman." 

" They say," to himself one day says the Dey, 

" I may bully him now without reck'ning to pay ; 

" There 's a kick-up just coming with him and John Bull, 

" And John will give Jonathan both his hands full." 

So he bullied our consul, and captur'd our men, 
Went out through the Straits and came back safe again ; 
And thought that his cruisers in triumph might ply 
Wherever they pleas'd, but he thought a big lie. 

For when Jonathan fairly got John out of his way. 
He prepar'd him to settle accounts with the Dey ; 
Says he, " I will send him an able debater :" 
So he sent him a message by Stephen Decatur. 

Away went Decatur to treat with the Dey, 
But he met the Dey's admiral just in his way; 
And by way of a tribute just captur'd his ship ; 
But the soul of the admiral gave him the slip. 

From thence he proceeded to AJgesair's bay. 

To pay his respects to his highness the Dey, 

And sent him a message, decided yet civil, 

But the Dey wished both him and his note to the devil. 

But when he found out that the admiral's ship. 
And the admiral too, had both giv'n him the slip, 
The news gave his highness a good deal of pain, 
And the Dey thought he 'd never see daylight again. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 315 

" Ho ! ho !" says the Dey, " if this is the way 

" This Jonathan reckons his tribute to pay ; 

" Who takes it will tickle his fingers with thorns." — 

So the Dey and the cresce7\t both haul'd in their horns. 

He call'd for a peace and gave up our men, 
And promis'd he 'd never ask tribute again ; 
Says his highness, the Dey, " here 's the devil to pay 
" Instead of a tribute ; heigho, well-a-day !" 

And never again will our Jonathan pay 

A tribute to potentate, pirate, or Dey ; 

Nor any, but that which for ever is giv'n : — 

The tribute to valour, and virtue, and Heav'n. 

And again if his Deyship should bully and fume. 
Or hereafter his claim to this tribute resume, 
We 'II send him Decatur once more to defy him. 
And his motto shall be, if you please, Carpe Diem. 



THE TARS OF COLUMBIA. 

Ye generous sons of Freedom's happy climes, 
Think, while you safely till your fruitful fields. 

Of him, th' avenger of Oppression's crimes, 
Who ploughs a soil which blood and danger yields. 

Remember still the gallant tar, who roams. 
Through rocks and gulfs, the ocean's gloomy vast ; 

To quell your foes, and guard your peaceful homes. 
Who bides the battle's shock and tempest's blast. 

Think, while you loll upon your beds of down, 
And mingle with Affection's cheering train, 

How he 's exposed to winter's chilling frown. 
Without a kindred soul to soothe his pain. 

When seated by your joy-diffiising fire. 
Some dreary, dark, tempestuous, howling night, 

Let Fancy's strong, adventurous wing aspire, 
And poise o'er ocean on aerial height. — 



316 APPENDIX. 

Thence view the rolling world of waves below — 
Survey the barks that bear our daring tars, 

As round them Neptune's howling whirlwinds blow, 
And rend their sails, and crash their yielding spars ; 

Lo ! where the lashing surges, foaming high, 
Convulse the groaning vessel's sturdy frame ; 

With lightning torches snatch'd from the vex'd sky, 
Destruction's angel whelms her all in flame. 

Fierce thunders burst — the starless welkin glares — 
No aid is near — the lamp of hope expires — 

Terrific Death his haggard visage bares, 
And ocean monsters fly the raging fires. 

Behold the gallant crew, Columbia's sons ! 

Who 've boldly torn the British banner down, 
And faced the mouths of her exploding guns ; 

E'en now they scorn to sully their renown! 

Though nought but one dark waste of billows wide 
Meet their un weeping eyes — and, ere an hour 

Has flown one hundredth part away, the tide 
Must quench their breath ; their spirits do not cower ! 

They feel, with joy, they 've serv'd their country well, 

And lift an honest orison to heaven; 
Their homes upon their dying accents dwell, 

And as they sink, they hope their sins forgiven. 

Behold that head with glory circled bright ! 

As it descends, the waves around it glow ; 
'Tis Blakely's ! he that halo gained in fight, 

When Britain's standard fell beneath his blow. 

Though watery mountains roll upon his breast, 
And scaly millions gambol in his grave ; 

Yet shall his spirit shine among the blest, 
And fame embalm his memory on the wave. 

But see ! where yonder floating fragments blaze, 

A lonely, lingering sailor still survives ! 
From his frail plank he casts a hopeless gaze. 

Yet still for life with the rough sea he strives. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 317 

Far on the tumbling deep the hero 's tost — 
Ere long the tempest flags, and dawn appears ; 

The sun rolls up the sky, " all, all, are lost ! " 
He cries, " my comrades brave I " — thence gush his tears. 

The wearied billows sink in slumbers mild, 
And on their sparkling bosoms dolphins play ; 

With lusty arms he stems the watery wild. 
And thinks on friends and country far away. 

A thousand tender feelings swell his heart — 
His wife's, and babe's, and kindred's dear embrace. 

Shoots through his bosom like a burning dart. 
At thought, that they no more shall see his face. 

His eye around the wide expanse he strains. 

In hopes some passing vessel to descry ; 
Ploughing the waste of ever-waving plains, 

That at far distance meet the bending sky. 

And not a whitening surge is seen to rise 

In the waste distance, and towards him roll. 
But seems a friendly sail to his dim eyes, 

Bringing sweet hope to cheer his sinking soul. 

Alas, poor sailor ! — 't is no help for thee ! 

It comes the foaming herald of the storm. — 
'T is not the whitening canvass that you see, 

But the white winding-sheet to wrap thy form. 

In pomp majestic, on his billowy throne. 
Far in the west Day's radiant sov'reign glows ; 

His cheering sway the finny nations own. 
As o'er the deep his golden splendour flows. 

Their frolics wild the hapless sailor views. 

As round him, through the brine, they flounce and frisk : 
Then, on the western glories seems to muse. 

Until the sun withdraws his flaming disk. 

Now, hear the plaint his heart in sadness pours — 
" While pleasure sparkles through the swarming main, 

Elumes yon heaven, and robes my native shores ; 
I 'm thrown adrift, the sport of direst pain I 

27* 



318 APPENDIX. 

O ! that, when in the battle fray I stood, 
And strained each sinew in the glorious cause ; 

Some cannon peal had drained my veins of blood. 
And crowned my mortal exit with applause ! 

But, here I 'm doomed to perish in the deep, 
By ocean monster, hunger, storm, or cold ; 

Without one messmate o'er my corse to weep, 
And pay the honours due a sailor bold." 



The pall of Night the liquid world enshrouds. 
And silence mingles with the gathering gloom ; 

Again the heavens are wrapp'd in rolling clouds, 
And sea-mews shriek o'er many a watery tomb. 



Ah ! think what now the lonely sailor feels ! 

Chill are his brine-steep'd limbs, and numb'd, and tired- 
The swelling mass of waves already reels — 

The sky with flash, succeeding flash, is fired. 



The winds are raging fierce — the surges roll — 
The shark and huge leviathan now roam — 

Tremendous thunders shake the distant pole, 
And ocean's heaving breast is whelm'd in foam. 



A flickering light gleams o'er the tumbling flood — 
Perhaps a meteor's. — Lives our seaman still 1 

Or drinks the insatiate shark his valiant blood ? 
This know, whate'er his fate, 't is God's just will. 



Ere long, if not deterr'd by critic's ire. 
Wild Fancy may his destiny disclose ; 

And call upon his country to admire 
A sailor's gallantry, and feel his woes. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 319 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. 

Oh ! say, can you see by the dawn's early Hght, 

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight, 

O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming ; 
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there 1 
Oh ! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave ■? 



On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, 

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, 
What is that which the breeze, o'er the tow'ring steep. 

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses: 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam. 

In full glory reflected now shines on the stream : 
'T is the star-spangled banner I oh, long may it wave 

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave. 



And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, 

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, 
A home and a country, shall leave us no more 1 

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution : 
No refuge could save the hireling and slave. 

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave, 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave. 



Oh ! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand 

Between their loved home, and the war's desolation ; 
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heaven-rescued land 

Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation : 
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just. 

And this be our motto — " In God is our trust." 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave • 



320 APPENDIX. 



HAIL COLUMBIA. 

Hail Columbia ! happy land ! 
Hail ye heroes ! heaven-born band ! 
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause, 
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause, 
And when the storm of war was gone, 
Enjoyed the peace your valour won. 
Let independence be our boast, 
Ever mindful what it cost; 
Ever grateful for the prize. 
Let its altar reach the skies. 

Firm — united — let us be, 
Rallying round our liberty; 
As a band of brothers join'd, 
Peace and safety we shall find. 

Immortal patriots! rise once more; 

Defend your rights, defend your shore; 
Let no rude foe, with impious hand, ■ 
Let no rude foe, with impious hand, 

Invade the shrine where sacred lies 

Of toil and blood the well-earn'd prize. 
While offering peace sincere and just. 
In heaven we place a manly trust, 
That truth and justice will prevail, 
And every scheme of bondage fail. 
Firm — united, &c. 

Sound, sound, the trump of fame ! 

Let Washington's great name 
Ring through the world with loud applause, 
Ring through the world with loud applause. 

Let every clime to freedom dear. 

Listen with a joyful ear; 

With equal skill, and god-like power 
He govern'd in the fearful hour 
Of horrid war ; or guides with ease, 
The happier times of honest peace. 
Firm — united, «&:.c. 

Behold the chief who now commands, 
Once more to serve his country stands — 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 321 

The rock on which the storm will beat; 
The rock on which the storm will beat; 
But arm'd in virtue, firm and true, ^ 

His hopes are fix'd on heaven and you. 
When hope was sinking in dismay. 
And glooms obscured Columbia's day, 
His steady mind, from changes free, 
Resolv'd on death or liberty. 

Firm — united — let us be, 
Rallying round our liberty; 
As a band of brothers join'd, 
Peace and safety we shall find. 



THE PHANTOM SHIP. 

'T was midnight dark, 

The seaman's bark 
Swift o'er the waters bore him; 

When, through the night. 

He spied a light. 
Shoot o'er the wave before him. 

" A sail ! a sail ! " he cries, 
She comes from the Indian shore, 

"And to-night shall be our prize, 
With her freight of golden ore." 

Sail on, sail on, — 

When morning shone. 
He saw the gold still clearer. 

But tho' so fast. 

The waves he pass'd. 
That boat seem'd never the nearer. 

Bright daylight came. 
And still the same 
Rich bark before him floated; 
While on the prize. 
His wishful eyes. 
Like any young lover's doted. 

" More sail ! more sail ! " he cries, 

While the wave o'er-tops the mast, 
And his bounding galley flies, 
Like an arrow before the blast. 
2q 



322 APPENDIX. 

Thus on and on, 
Till day was gone, 
1^ And the moon thro' heav'n did hie her, 
He swept the main, 
But all in vain. 
That boat seem'd never the nigher. 

And many a day, 

To night gave way. 
And many a morn succeeded, 

While still his flight, 

Thro' day and night, 
That restless mariner speeded. 

Who knows — who knows what seas, 
He is now careering o'er? 

Behind the eternal breeze, 
And that mocking bark before ! 

For, oh ! till sky 

And earth shall die. 
And their death leave none to rue it, 

That boat must flee. 

O'er the boundless sea, 
And that ship in vain pursue it. 



THE AMERICAN STAR. 

Come, strike the bold anthem, the war dogs are howling. 

Already they eagerly snuff" up their prey, 
The red clouds of war o'er our forests are scowling, 

Soft peace spreads her wings and flies weeping away ; 
The infants, affrighted, cling close to their mothers, 

The youth grasp their swords, for the combat prepare, 
While beauty weeps fathers, and lovers and brothers, 

Who rush to display the American Star. 

Come blow the shrill bugle, the loud drum awaken. 
The dread rifle seize, let the cannon deep roar ; 

No heart with pale fear, or faint doubtings be shaken. 
No slave's hostile foot leave a print on our shore : 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. y2*J 

Shall mothers, wives, daughters and sisters left weeping, 
Insulted by ruffians, be dragged to despair ! 

Oh no ! from her hills the proud eagle comes sweeping,^ 
And waves to the brave the American Star. 



The spirits of Washington, Warren, Montgomery, 

Look down from the clouds, with bright aspect serene; 
Come, soldiers, a tear and a toast to their memory. 

Rejoicing they '11 see us as they once have been. 
To us the high boon by the gods has been granted, 

To speed the glad tidings of liberty far ; 
Let millions invade us, we '11 meet them undaunted^ 

And vanquish them by the American Star, 

Your hands, then, dear comrades, 'round liberty's altar, 

United we swear by the souls of the brave ! 
Not one from the strong resolution shall falter, 

To live independent, or sink to the grave ! 
Then, freemen, fill up — Lo ! the striped banner's flying, 

The higli bird of liberty screams through the air ; 
Beneath her oppression and tyranny dying — 

Success to the beaming American Star. 



COLUMBIA. 

Columbia ! Columbia ! to glory arise. 

The queen of the world, and the child of the skies ; 

Thy genius commands thee : with raptures behold, 

While ages on ages thy splendours unfold; 

Thy reign is the last, and the noblest of time. 

Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime ; 

Let the crimes of the east ne'er encrimson thy name, 

Be freedom, and science, and virtue thy fame. 

To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire, 
'Whelm nations in blood, and wrap cities in fire ; 
Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend, 
And triumph pursue them, and glory attend ; 



324 APPENDIX. 

A world is thy realm, for a world be thy laws, 
Enlarged as thine empire, and just as thy cause, 
^k)n freedom's broad basis that empire shall rise, 
Extend with tlie main, and dissolve with the skies. 



Fair science her gates to thy sons shall unbar, 
And the east see thy morn hide the beams of her star ; 
New bards and new sages unrivalled shall soar. 
To fame unextinguished, when time is no more : 
To thee, the last refuge of virtue designed. 
Shall fly, from all nations, the best of mankind. 
Here, grateful to heaven, with transports shall bring 
Their incense, more fragrant than odours of spring. 

Nor less shall thy fair ones to glory ascend. 
And genius and beauty in harmony blend ; 
Their graces of form shall awake pure desire, 
And the charms of the soul still enliven the fire ; 
Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refined, 
And virtue's bright image enstamped on the mind, 
With peace and soft rapture shall teach life to glow, 
And light up a smile in the aspect of woe. 

Thy fleets to all regions thy power shall display, 
The nations admire, and the ocean obey ; 
Each shore to thy glory its tribute unfold. 
And the east and the south yield their spices and gold ; 
As the day-spring unbounded thy splendours shall flow. 
And earth's little kingdom before thee shall bow ; 
While the ensigns of union in triumph unfurled. 
Hush the tumults of war, and give peace to the world. 

Thus as down a lone valley, with cedars o'erspread, 
From the noise of the city I pensively strayed. 
The gloom from the face of fair heaven retired. 
The winds ceased to murmur, the thunders expired ; 
Perfumes, as of Eden, flowed sweetly along, 
And a voice, sure of angels, enchantingly sung, 
" Columbia ! Columbia ! to glory arise, 
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies." 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 325 



THE TRUE YANKEE SAILOR. 

When a boy, Harry Bluff left his friends and his home. 
And his dear native land, o'er the ocean to roam ; 
Like a sapling he sprung, he was fair to the view. 
He was true Yankee oak, boys, the older he grew, 
Though his body was weak, and his hands they were soft, 
When the signal was given he was first man aloft, 
And the veterans all cried, he 'd one day lead the van. 
In the heart of a boy was the soul of a man — 
And he lived like a true Yankee sailor. 



When to manhood promoted and burning for fame. 

Still in peace or in war, Harry Bluff was the same. 

So true to his love, and in battle so brave, 

That the myrtle and laurel entwin'd o'er his grave. 

For his country he fell, when by victory crown'd, 

The flag, shot away, fell in tatters around, 

And the foe thought he 'd struck, but he sung out. Avast! 

For Columbia's colours he 'd nail'd to the mast. 

And he died like a true Yankee sailor. 



BILLY, LET'S THANK PROVIDENCE THAT 
YOU AND I ARE SAILORS. 

One night came on a hurricane, the sea was mountains rolling. 
When Barney Buntline turn'd his quid, and said to Billy Bowling, 
A strong sow-wester 's blowing, Billy, can't you hear it roar now ! 
Lord help 'em, how I pities all unhappy folks on shore now ! 

Fool-hardy chaps as live in towns, what dangers they are all in ! 
And now they're quaking in their beds for fear the roof should 

fall in. 
Poor creatures, how they envies us, and wishes, I 've a notion. 
For our good luck, in such a storm, to be upon the ocean. 
28 



326 APPENDIX. 

Then as to them kept out all day on business from their houses, 
And, late at night, are walking home to cheer their babes and 

spouses. 
While you and I upon the deck are comfortably lying, 
My eyes, what tiles and chimney-pots about their heads are flying ! 



And often have we seamen heard how men are killed or undone 
By overturns in carriages, and thieves, and fires, in London ; 
We 've heard what risks all landsmen run, from noblemen to tailors. 
So, Billy, let 's thank Providence that you and I are sailors. 



THE AMERICAN FLAG. 

Proud flag of my country ! all gallantly streaming 

In the breeze of the battle when glory appears, 
The stern scarlet blaze of its hurricane braving. 

While mercy hangs round with her olive and tears. 
Proud flag of my country ! 'tis transport to meet 

Some smoke-coloured hero, who bled under thee ; 
As he rushed after victory's blood-dripping feet, 

And grasped the wild laurel that blooms o'er the sea. 



Yes, yes, if there 's one whom a nation should love. 
One high-minded man, whom e'en angels admire; 

It is he, who, with spirit all flushed from above 
With the rich royal bloom of the patriot's fire. 

Dares stand between danger and thee, in the hour 

When the tyrant would tread on thy peace and thy power. 

Dares stand, &,c. 



NAVAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. 327 



OLD IRONSIDES. 

Ay, put her a-top on the log-book of fame, 

Her voice always roar'd from the van, 
When she bore down in thunder, and darkness, and flame, 
Crash, foundering each foe that before her came. 
The old sailor's soul flashes up at her name, 

For her yards young Americans man. 

FiU her canvass, my boys, with a full round of cheers, 

From hearts that are sound to the core ; 
She 's braved the hot whirlwind of battle for years, 
A flag, never struck, at her mizzen appears — 
Bristling nations with awe her artillery hears. 

For victory breathes in its roar. 

She 's wrestled the wrath of winter's fierce gale 

When it whiten'd the Atlantic's breast. 
When midnight moan'd like a maniac's wail, 
Lightnings glared wild through the rent of each sail, 
And sweethearts ashore, were weeping and pale. 

While their lovers stood calm, to the test. 

Her deck's been trampled by Slaughter's feet — 

Her scuppers choked tight with gore — 
She press'd on, the proud pioneer of the fleet. 
Every heart kept time to the death-drum's beat, 
Every muscle firm as the iron cleat. 

While the broad flag of freedom she bore. 

That standard has flared over many a fight, 

Whose noise the night tempest outgrew. 
When our country frown'd for the sailor boy's right, 
Read each decree by the cannon's dark light. 
Tyranny's face turned suddenly white 

When we brought down his banner of blue. 

Often, again, as in years that ar-e past. 

Will our old ship undaunted dash on. 
Her colours defyingly nail'd to the mast. 
Her ports open'd wide to the blaze and the blast. 
She will front every danger and death to the last. 

And be cheer'd by America's children, unborn. 



328 APPENDIX. 



THE PILOT. 

Oh, pilot! 'tis a fearful night. 

There's danger on the deep, 
I '11 come and pace the deck with thee, 

I do not dare to sleep. 
Go down ! the sailor cried, go down, 

This is no place for thee; 
Fear not ! but trust in Providence, 

Wherever thou may'st be. 

Ah ! pilot, dangers often met. 

We all are apt to slight. 
And thou hast known these raging waves 

But to subdue their might. 
It is not apathy, he cried, 

That gives this strength to me: 
Fear not ! but trust in Providence, 

Wherever thou may'st be. 

On such a night the sea engulph'd 

My father's lifeless form ; 
My only brother's boat went down 

In just so wild a storm; 
And such, perhaps, may be my fate, — 

But still I say to thee, 
Fear not ! but trust in Providence, 

Wherever thou may'st be. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE 



EVENTS IN AMERICAN NAVAL HISTORY. 



[For convenience of reference, this table is carried back to the 
period of the discovery, and embraces most of the important 
naval events in the history of America.] 

1492. August 3d. Columbus sails from Spain. 
" Oct. 12th. Columbus discovers land. 

" Oct. 27th. Columbus discovers Cuba. 

" Dec. 6th. Columbus discovers Hispaniola. 

1493. Jan. 16th. Columbus returns to Spain. 

" Sept. 25th. Secozid voyage of Columbus. 

1494. May 5th. Columbus discovers Jamaica. 

1497. June 24th. The Cabots discover the continent of Amer- 

ica. 

1498. May 30th. Third voyage of Columous. 

" Aug. 1st. Columbus discovers the continent, 

1499. May 20th. Ojeda's voyage. 

1500. Jan. 13th. The Pinzons sail from the Cape Verd Islands. 
" April 23d. Cabral discovers Brazil. 

" Aug. 23d. Columbus sent home in chains. 

" Cortereal's voyage. 

1501. May. Voyage of Amerigo "Vespucci to Brazil. 

1502. May 11th. Fourth and last voyage of Columbus. 

" Aug. 14th. Bay of Honduras discovered by Columbus. 
1504. Sept. 2d. Columbus returns to Spain, 
1508. Voyage of de Soils and Pinzon. 

" The French first sail up the St. Lawrence. 

28* 2r (329) 



330 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1512. April 2d. Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida. 

1513. Sept. 25th. Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovers the South 

Sea. 

1515. Oct. "Voyage of de Solis. 

1516. Sebastian Cabot's second voyage to America. 

1517. Feb, 8th. Cordova's voyage. 

1518. April 5th. Voyage of Grijalva. 

1519. Cortez sails from Cuba against Mexico. 

1520. Nov. 7th. Magellan discovers the Straits which bear his 

name. 
" Nov. 28th. Magellan enters the Paciiic. 
1524. Voyage of Verrazzano in the service of France. 
1.525. Voyage of Stephen Gomez. 
1526. April 1st. Voyage of Sebastian Cabot. 
1531. Pizarro returns from Spain, and sails for the invasion of 

Peru. 

1533. Expedition of Alvarado. 

1534. April 20th. First voyage of Cartier to Canada. 

1535. Cartier's second voyage. 

" Mendoza's expedition to La Plata. 

1539. Expedition of Soto to Florida. 

1540. May 23d. Cartier's voyage to Canada. 
" Aug. 23d. Arrives at St. Croix. 

1542. Cartier returns to France. 

" Cabrillo discovers Cabo Mendocino. 

1544. May 11th. Orellana's last voyage. 

1 549. Roberval sails for Canada, and is lost. 

1562. Feb. Ribaut's voyage to Florida. 

" May 1st. Ribaut discovers the River May. 

1564. April 22d. Laudonniere sails for Florida. 

1565. Melendez arrives and attacks Fort Caroline. 
" Sept. 25th. Ribaut sails for France. 

1568. Expedition of Gourges to Florida. 
1572. Drake's voyage to South America. 

1575. Voyage of Oxenham. 

1576. Frobisher's first voyage, discovers Elizabeth's Foreland 

and Frobisher's Strait. 

1577. Dec. 13th. Drake's voyage round the world. 
" Frobisher's second voyage. 

1578. Frobisher's third voyage. 

1583. June 1 1th. Sir Humphrey Gilbert's voyage to New Found- 
land. 
" Aug. 20th. He sails for the Isle of Sable. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 331 

1583. Aug. 31st. He sails for England. 
" Sept. 9th. He is lost at sea. 

1584. April 27th. Voyage of Amadas and Barlow. 
" Sept. They return to England. 

1585. April 9th. Voyage of Sir Richard Grenville to Virginia. 

1586. Grand expedition of the English to the West Indies. 
" June 9th. Sir Francis Drake arrives in Virginia. 

" June 18th. Takes the colony to England. 

1587. April 26th. Raleigh sends a second colony to Virginia. 
" July 2d. It lands at Roanoke. 

1588. Voyage of Cavendish round the world. 

1591. A French fleet sails to Canada. 

" Cavendish attempts to pass the Straits of Magellan. 

1592. Newport's expedition against the Spaniards in the West 

Indies. 

1593. Voyage of G. Drake to St. Lawrence. 
" Voyage of G. Weymouth to Labrador. 

1594. April 4th. Voyage of S. Wyet to St. Lawrence. 
" Voyage of J. Lancaster against the Spaniards. 

1595. Feb. 6th, Voyage of Raleigh to Guiana. 
" May 19th. Voyage of A. Preston. 

" Aug. 28th. Voyage of Drake and Hawkins to the West 
Indies. 

1596. Raleigh's second voyage to Guiana. 

1597. Raleigh's third voyage to Guiana. 

" Jan. 29th. Voyage of Sir A. Shirley. 

" Voyage of Earl of Cumberland to W. Indies. 

" Voyage of C. Leigh to Cape Breton. 

1598. Jan. 12th. La Roche sails to conquer Canada. 

1599. Voyage of Gherritz. 

1600. Sebald de Weert discovers the Sebaldine Islands. 

1601. Voyage of W. Parker. 

1602. March 26th. Voyage of B. Gosnold to the northern parts 

of Virginia. 
" May 14th. He discovers land in 43°. 
" May 15th. Anchors at Cape Cod. 
" June 18th. Returns to England. 

1603. April 10th. Voyage of M. Pring. 

" May 10th. Bartholomew Gilbert sails for Virginia. 

1604. March 7th. Voyage of De Monts. 

1605. March 31st. Voyage of George Weymouth. 

1606. Aug. 12th. Voyage of Henry Challons. 

" Nov. 12th. He is taken and carried into Spain. 



332 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1607. April 26th. Newport enters Chesapeake Bay with the first 

colonists. 

1608. Voyage of Smith towards the source of the Chesapeake. 

1608. Newport arrives with supplies. 

1609. June 2d. Nine vessels with 500 people sail for Virginia. 
" Voyage of Hudson. 

161 1. Last voyage of Hudson. 

" Champlain discovers the lake which bears his name. 

1612. Voyage of Thomas Button. 

1614. March 3d. First voyage of John Smith to New England. 

1615. June 24th. Sails again for New England but is captured 

by the French. 
" Oct. Voyage of Sir Richard Hawkins. 

1616. March 26th. Voyages of Bylot and Baffin. 

" Jan. 25. Schouten discovers De Maire's Strait. 

1617. June 30th. Last voyage of Sir Walter Raleigh to Guiana. 

1618. Lord Delaware sails for Virginia. 

1619. T. Dermer's voyage to New England. 

" May 20th. Passes through Long Island Sound. 

1620. Sept. 6th. English Puritans sail for America. 
" Nov. 10th. They anchor at Cape Cod. 

" Dec. 11th. First landing at Plymouth. 

1621. Sept. 18th. Bay of Massachusetts explored. 
1625. Ship from Plymouth taken by the Turks. 

1630. Winthrop comes with a colony to Massachusetts, 

1631. Voyage of Lucas Fox. 

1655. English fleet fitted out against Hispaniola. 

1666. Bucaneers begin depredations in the West Indies, 

1673. A Dutch squadron arrives at Virginia. 

1679. Protestants sent to Carolina. 

1687. Expedition for suppressing pirates in the West Indies. 

1690. Expedition of Sir W. Phipps against Canada. 

1704. Expedition of Colonel Church. 

1726. Admiral Hosier's disastrous expedition. 

1740. Vernon besieges Carthagena. 

1742. June. Spanish expedition against Georgia. 

1745. March 24th. Expedition sails against Louisbourg, 
April. Arrival of Commodore Warren. 

" Ship Massachusetts launched at Boston. 

1746. Sept. 10th. D'Anville with a fleet and army arrives at 

Nova Scotia. 

1747. May 3d. French fleet defeated by Anson and Warren. 
1753. British traders seized. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 333 

1755. May 20th. Expedition sails against Nova Scotia. 

1758. May 28th. Expedition against Louisbourg. 

" July 5th. Abercrombie embarks for Ticonderoga. 

1759. General Wolfe sails for Q,uebec. 

1760. French ships destroyed at Acadie. 

1762. Feb. 14th The English take Martinico and the other Ca- 

ribbee Islands. 
" Aug. 12th. Havana is taken by the English. 
1768. June 10th. The sloop Liberty, belonging to Mr. Hancock, 

seized by custom-house otficers at Boston, causing some 

tumults among the inhabitants. 
1772. June 9th. The Providence packet fired into by the British 

schooner Gaspee. The latter ran aground, and was 

burned by the Americans in the night. 

1775. Aug 9th. The British sloop of war Falcon, sent her boats, 

with a schooner and cutter, to capture an American 

schooner in Gloucester harbour; but the British party 

were all captured. 
" Nov. 12th. American schooner Defence attacked by two 

British ships of war, near Hog Island, S. C. 
" Nov. 17th. Eleven British vessels, laden with stores for the 

army, captured by the Americans at Sorrel River, Lower 

Canada. 
" Nov. 29th. American privateer Lee captured British brig 

Nancy, with ordnance and stores for British army in 

America. 
" Dec. 8th. Three British ships, with stores for the army, 

captured by captain Manly. 

1776. March 22d. Letters of marque and reprisal issued by 

America against Great Britain. 
« April 6th. British sloop Glasgow, 20 guns, engaged an 

American fleet of five vessels, mounting 82 guns, and 

escaped. 
" May 3d. British fleet, amounting to nearly 50 sail, arrived 

at Cape Fear, having on board Lord Cornwallis and 

General Clinton. 
" May 17th. The British ship Hope captured in Boston Bay, 

by Captain Mugford, and brought into Boston. 
" June 14th. The British fleet cannonaded from Moon ana 

Long Islands, and compelled to leave the coast. 
" June 17th. Six American privateers captured the George 

and Arabella, British transports, in Boston Bay: 320 

prisoners taken. 



334 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1777. Feb. 6th. The government of England issued letters of 

marque and reprisal against the Colonies. 

" June 14th. The present flag of the United States of Amer- 
ica — the stars and stripes — adopted by order of Con- 
gress. 

" July 7th, United States frigate Hancock captured by 
British squadron of Rainbow, Flora, and Victor. 

1778. M&rch 4th. American frigate Alfred captured by British 

ships Ariadne and Ceres. 

«' March 7th. United States frigate Randolph, of 36 guns 
and 305 men, commanded by Captain Nicholas Biddle, 
blown up in action with British ship Yarmouth. Four 
men only saved. 

" June 8th. The French fleet, under Count D'Estaing, ar- 
rived in America. 

" Aug. 5th. The British frigates Juno, Lark, Orpheus, and 
Cerberus, with other vessels, burnt and sunk at Rhode 
Island, upon the appearance of the French fleet. 

" Aug. 22d. The French fleet avoided co-operation with the 
Americans, and sailed into Boston, being compelled to put 
into port. 

1779. July. The American privateer Jason, Captain Manly, cap- 

tured two British privateers, the one of 18 and the other 

of 16 guns. 
" Sept. 1st. D'Estaing with the French fleet, captured British 

50 gun ship, off Charleston, S. C. 
" Sept. 23d. Captain John Paul Jones' victory in the Bonne 

Homme Richard, over the British ship of war Serapis, 

44 guns, and the Countess of Scarborough, 22 guns, on 

the coast of England. 

1780. June 1st. American privateer General Pickering captured 

English ship Golden Eagle. 

1781. March 16th. Battle between the French and English fleets 

off Cape Henry. 
" April 2d. United States frigate Alliance, Captain Barry, 

captured British frigate Mars, and sloop Minerva. 
" May 28th. United States frigate Alliance, Captain Barry, 

captured British sloops of war Atalanta and Trepassey. 
" Aug. 11th. United States frigate Trumbull carried by the 

British into New York. 
" Aug. 30th. French fleet of 28 sail of the line, under Count 

de Grasse, sailed into the Chesapeake, to co-operate with 

the Americans. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 835 

178L Sept. 6th. American privateer Congress captured Britisii 
sloop of war Savage, of 20 guns. 
" Sept. 7th. Sea fight off Cape Henry, between the British 
fleet, under Graves, and the French fleet, under de 
Grasse. 
" Sept. 10th. British frigates Richmond and Isis, 32 guns 
each, captured in the Chesapeake by the French fleet, 
under D'Estaing. 

1782. April 8th. American ship Hyder Ally, 16 guns, captured 

the British ship General Monk, 29 guns. 
" Sept. 11th. French frigate L'Aigle captured off Delaware 

capes by the British squadron. 
" Dec. 12th. American ship Alexander, 24 guns, and the 

IVIenagere, a French 64, captured by British man-of-war 

Mediator. 
" Dec. 20th. United States frigate Charleston captured off 

capes of Delaware by British king's ships of war Diomede 

and Q,uebec. 

1783. April 19th. Cessation of hostilities between Great Britain 

and the United States proclaimed by General Washing- 
ton. 
1787. Aug. 9th. The ship Columbia and sloop Washington sailed 
from Boston on a voyage round the world, and returned 
in August, 1790, being the first American vessels that 
circumnavigated the globe. 

1793. July 14th. Captain Barney's ship Samson captured by 

three privateers ; but in three days he retook his own 
crafl:, and took his captors prisoners into Baltimore. 
" Aug. 1st. French frigate 1' Ambuscade beat off the British 
frigate Boston, off New York. 

1794. March 26th. Commencement of the embargo for 30 days ; 

afl;erwards increased to 60. 
" July 14th. Fourteen sail of French ships, laden with pro- 
visions, captured by British squadron, under Admiral 
Murray, off the American coast. 

1795. May 17th. French and English squadrons engaged near 

Cape Henry — two French vessels captured. 

1796. Nov. 4th. Treaty between Tripoli and United States 

signed at Algiers. 

1797. July 7th. The treaties between France and the United 

States declared null and void, in consequence of the de- 
predations of the French cruisers on the commerce of the 
United States. 



336 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1798. Nov. 16tli. Outrage on the United States ship of war Bal- 
timore, of 20 guns, by a British squadron. Five Ameri- 
can seamen were impressed. 

1798. Nov. 20th. United States schooner Retaliation captured 

by two French frigates. 

1799. Feb. 9th. United States frigate Constellation, Captain 

Truxtun, captured French frigate I'lnsurgent, 54 guns, 
off Basseterre. 

" July 7th. Ship Aurora, of Philadelphia, captured by a 
privateer, off Anger Road. 

" July 10th. American ship Planter, Captain John Watts, 
beat off a French privateer of 22 guns, after a running 
fight of two hours and a half, wherein the ladies (passen- 
gers) handed the cartridges. 

1800. Feb. 1st. Engagement between United States frigate Con- 

stellation, Commodore Truxtun, and French ship la 
Vengeance, 54 guns. 
" Oct. 12th. United States frigate Boston captured French 
corvette La Borceau. 

1801. June lOth. Declaration of war by the Bashaw of Tripoli 

against the United States. 
" Aug. 1st. Capture of the Tripoli, 14 guns, by the Enter- 
prize, 12 guns. Lieutenant Skerret. 

1803. Aug. 26th. United States frigate Philadelphia, Captain 

Bainbridge, captured off Cape de Gatt a Moorish cruiser 
of 22 guns, and retook her prize, an American brig. 
" Oct. 31st. United States frigate Philadelphia, while in chase 
of a strange sail, ran on a reef of rocks, and after a four 
hours' action became a prize to the Tripolitans. 

1804. Feb. 16th. United States frigate Philadelphia burnt in the 

harbour of Tripoli, by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, and 

70 volunteers, in the ketch Intrepid. 
" Aug. 3d. Attack on Tripoli by American Commodore Preble. 
" Aug. 7th. Commodore Preble's second attack on Tripoli. 
" Aug. 27th and 29th. Commodore Preble again bombarded 

Tripoli. 

1805. June 3d. Peace concluded between the United States and 

Tripoli. 
" June 5th. American prisoners at Tripoli liberated. 
" Sept. 4th. The Intrepid United States fire-ship, containing 

100 barrels of gunpowder and 150 shells, exploded in 

harbour of Tripoli by Captain Somers, who, with two 

lieutenants and ten men, were killed. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 3:37 

1807. June 22d. Outrage by British ship of war Leopard, 50 
guns, on United States frigate Chesapeake, 36. 
" July 2d. The President of the United States ordered all 
British ships of war to evacuate the American ports, in 
consequence of the outrage on the Chesapeake. 
" Dec. Embargo law passed. 

1809. Jan, 9th. Congress passed laws to enforce the embargo act. 
" March 4th. Embargo law repealed. 

1810. Jan. 2d. Murat, king of Naples, received orders from Paris 

to seize all American vessels and cargoes. 
" May 1st. All French and English vessels prohibited from 

entering the ports of the United States. 
" June 24th. United States brig Vixen fired at by British 

sloop of war Moselle, near the Bahamas. 
" July 19th. American vessels forbidden by the king of 

Prussia to enter the ports of that country. 

1811. May 16th. United States fi-igate President, Commodore 

Rodgers, captured the British ship Little Belt. 
" Nov. 15th. Two French privateers burnt at Savannah, S. 
C, on account of a private quarrel between American 
and French sailors. 

1812. April 1 1th. Four British barges captured in Hampton Roads. 
" April 24th. American privateer Surprise, 10 guns, captured 

the English brig KutousofF, 12 guns. 
" June 18th. War declared against Great Britain by the 

United States of America. 
" June 21st. The first American squadron put to sea, under 

the command of Commodore Rodgers. 
" June 24th. Engagement, in running fight, between United 

States frigate President, and British frigate Belvidere — 

the latter escaped. 
" July 2d. American embargo expired. 
" July 10th. United States frigate Essex captured a British 

transport, with a detachment of the first regiment of 

Royal Scots aboard. 
" July 15th. United States brig Nautilus captured by a 

British squadron. 
" July 17th. American privateer schooner Dolphin captured 

a British ship of 14 guns. 
♦' July 17th. United States frigate Constitution fell in with a 

British squadron, consisting of one 74, four frigates, a 

brig and a schooner, but escaped by the masterly sea- 
manship of Captain Hull. 

29 2 8 



33S CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1812. July 30th. Action between United States brig Julia and 

British ships Earl Moira and Duke of Gloucester, off the 

mouth of the St. Lawrence. 
" Aug. 3d. Privateer schooner Atlas captured two British 

ships, Planter, 12 guns, and Pursuit, 16 guns. 
" Aug. 7th. United States frigate Essex captured British 

brig George. 
" Aug. 7th. American fleet on Lake Erie chased British fleet 

into port. 
" Aug, 13th. United States frigate Essex captured British 

sloop of war Alert, off the Grand Banks — the first king's 

ship captured during the war. 
" Aug. 19th, United States frigate Constitution, 44 guns, 

captured British frigate Guerriere, 38. The prize sunk 

directly after the action. 
" Oct. 8th. Detroit and Caledonia, British armed brigs, cut 

out from under the walls of Fort Erie, by a party of 

American volunteers, under Lieutenant Elliot. 
" Oct. 15th. United States frigates President and Congress 

captured British packet Swallow, with nearly $ 200,000 

on board. 
** Oct. 18th. British sloop of war Frolic captured by United 

States sloop of war Wasp, which, with its prize, was 

taken by the British 74, Poictiers. 
" Oct. 25th. United States frigate United States, Commodore 

Decatur, captured the British frigate Macedonian. 
" Nov. 10th, United States schooner Growler captured on 

Lake Ontario a British schooner, with a valuable cargo 

and $12,000 in money aboard. 
" Nov. 21st. United States brig Vixen captured by British 

frigate Southampton, 
" Nov. 23d. American privateer Tom captured British packet 

ship Townsend. 
" Nov, 27th. British frigate Southampton, with her prize the 

United States brig Vixen, wrecked on sunken rocks off 

Concepcion, American sailors earned commendation 

of the English admiral by their endeavours to save their 

wrecked conquerors, 
" Nov, 29th, British schooner of war Subtle upset in a squall 

while chasing American privateer Favourite. All hands 

perished, 
" Dec, 6th, American privateer brig Montgomery captured 

the British ship Surinam. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 339 

1812. Dec. 29th. United States frigate Constitution captured 

British frigate Java. 

1813. Jan. 14th. Gallant action betwee'n American privateer 

schooner Comet, 14 guns, and three English vessels of war 

and one Portuguese, endingin capture of one of the former. 

" Jan. 17th. British frigate Narcissus captured United States 

brig Vixen. 
" Feb. 4th. United States frigate Constellation chased into 

Norfolk by a British squadron, 
" Feb. 5th. The ports and harbours of the Chesapeake de- 
clared to be in a state of blockade by the British Admiral 
Warren, 

" Feb, 26th, U. S. sloop of war Hornet captured the British 
brig Peacock, The prize sunk directly after the action, 

" March 10th, United States schooner Adeline encountered 
the British schooner Lottery in the night, in Chesapeake 
Bay, The latter supposed to be sunk, 

" March Uth, An American privateer the General Arm- 
strong, of 18 guns, encountered the fire of an English 
frigate of 38 guns for three-quarters of an hour, within 
pistol-shot, and escaped with only six killed and sixteen 
wounded. 

" March Uth. The British ship Poictiers, 74, and Belvidera 
frigate, blockaded the Delaware river. 

" April 1st. United States revenue schooner Gallatin blown 
up at Charleston, S. C. 

" April 3d, Several American privateers and letters of 
marque captured in the Chesapeake by English schooners 
and barges. 

" April 16th. A British squadron anchored in the Patapsco 
River, in sight of Baltimore, 

" April 28th. American privateer York Town captured Eng- 
lish brig Avery. 

" April 29th. United States frigate Essex, Captain D. Porter, 
captured British ships Montezuma, Policy and Georgiana. 

" May 20th. United States frigate Congress captured British 
brig Jean, 

" May 22d. United States frigate Congress captured British 
brig Diana. 

" May 30tli. American privateer brig Yankee captured 
British brig Thames, with cargo worth #180,000. 

" June 1st. United States frigate Chesapeake captured by 
British frigate Shannon. 



340 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1813. June 3d. British gun-boats on Lake Champlain captured 

and sunk two United States schooners of war. 
" June 10th. United States revenue cutter Surveyor cap- 
tured in Chesapeake Bay. 
" June 16th. British schooner Lady Murray^ with stores and 

ammunition, captured by United States schooner Lady 

of the Lake. 
" June 20th. Action between three British frigates and a 

flotilla of American gun-boats, in James' River. 
" June 22d. United States brig Rattlesnake captured British 

brig Crown Prince. 
" June 23d. Action between American gun-boats and sloops 

and two British frigates Statira and Spartan, in Delaware 

Bay. 
" July 13th. The Anaconda, a New York letter of marque, 

and Atlas, a Philadelphia privateer, captured by a British 

squadron. 
" July 14th. United States schooner Asp captured by five 

British barges in Kinsale Creek, near Yecomico River, 

but retaken by the militia in the course of the day. 
" July 24th. Some Americans attempted to blow up British 

74 gun ship Plantagenet with a torpedo, in Lynnhaven 

Bay. The vessel was much injured, although the plan 

failed. 
" July 29th. Action between United States gun-boats and 

British sloop of war Marten, in Delaware Bay. 
" August 5th. American privateer Decatur captured British 

schooner of war Decatur. 
" Aug. 10th. United States schooners Julia and Growler 

captured on Lake Ontario. 
" Aug. 14th. British sloop of war Pelican captured United 

States brig Argus. 
" Aug. 20th. American privateer Decatur arrived at Charles- 
ton, (S. C.,) with two prizes — British schooner of war 

Dominica, and ship London Trader heavily laden. 
" Sept. 5th. United States brig Enterprise captured British 

brig of war Boxer. 
" Sept. 10th. Whole British fleet on Lake Erie captured by 

Commodore Perry. 
«' Sept. 1 1th. Running fight, for six hours, on Lake Ontario, 

between British and American squadrons. 
" Oct. 2d. Commodore Chauncey chases the British fleet 

on Lake Ontario. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 341 

1813. Oct. 25th. United States frigate Congress captured and 

destroyed British merchant-ship Rose. 

" Nov, 6th. The American flotilla, consisting of 300 boats 
full of troops, under Gen. Wilkinson, cannonaded from 
the Canadian shores, without sustaining any injury. 

" Nov. 12th. Sloop Betsey, captain Kennedy, of Philadelphia, 
captured off Currituck, (N. C.,) by British frigate Lacede- 
monian, who took out the crew, and left the captain with 
a captain Holbrook on board, under the charge of a 
prize-master and five men. In the night, the two Ameri- 
can captains rose on the British, retook the sloop, and 
carried her safe into Wilmington, (N. C.,) with their six 
prisoners. 

" Nov. 16th. United States coast declared by the British 
admiral to be in a state of blockade. 

1814. Jan. 29th. Action between United States schooner Alligator 

and a squadron of British barges near Charleston, (S. C.) 
" Feb. 5th. Seventeen British officers captured on Lake 

Erie, and confined, on the principle of retaliation. 
" March 28th. United States frigate Essex attacked by 

British frigate Phoebe, and sloop of war Cherub, and 

captured after a desperate resistance. 
" April 7th. Twenty vessels burnt by the British on the 

Connecticut river. 
" April 14th. Embargo Act, of December 1813, repealed by 

congress. 
" April 21st. United States sloop of war Frolic captured by 

British frigate Orpheus, and schooner Shelburne. 
" 29th. The British sloop of war I'Epervier captured by 

United States sloop of war Peacock, capt. Warrington ; 

$128,000 were on board the prize. 
" May 25th. Skirmish between United States gun-boats 

and British frigate Maidstone off New London. 
" May 30th. Two British gun-boats, five barges, and 175 pri- 
soners captured by the Americans at Sandy Creek, (N.Y.) 
" June 9th. United States brig Rattlesnake captured British 

brig John. 
" June 10th. Action between British vessels of war and 

American flotilla, under Commodore Barney. 
" June 13th. Fourteen vessels burnt by the British at Ware- 
ham, New England. 
" June 20th. American privateer Perry captured British 

schooner Ballahon. 

29* 



342 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1814. June 22d. Independence, 74 gun-ship, launched at Boston. 
" June 26th. Two British frigates compelled to retire from 

the Patuxent, by a flotilla, under Commodore Barney. 
" June 28th. United States sloop of war Wasp, 18 guns, 

captured British sloop of war Reindeer, 19 guns. 
" July 8th. American privateer. Dash, captured British 

schooner of war Whiting. 
" July 10th. United States brig Rattlesnake captured by 

British ship Leander. The Rattlesnake had previously 

thrown over all her guns but two to escape from a British 

frigate. 
" July 19th. American privateer General Armstrong captured 

the British sloop Henrietta, with stores for British fleet. 
" Aug. 10th. British fleet of sixty sail entered the Chesapeake. 
" Aug. 23d. Privateer schooner Patapsco captured British 

brig Europe. 
" Sept. 1st. British sloop of war Avon sunk in action, by 

United States sloop of war Wasp. 
" Sept. 3d. United States frigate Adams, 32 guns, blown up 

at Hampden, on the Penobscot, to prevent her falling into 

the hands of the British. 
" Sept. 9th. United States schooners Scorpion and Tigress 

captured by the British, near St. Joseph's. 
" Sept. 9th. British privateer schooner Fortune of War, 

captured by the Americans, oflf Sapelo Bar. 
" Sept. 11th. The whole of the British fleet on Lake Cham- 
plain captured by the Americans under Commodore 

Macdonough. 
" Oct. 4th. United States revenue cutter belonging to New- 
port, Rhode Island, captured British privateer sloop Dart. 
" Oct. 13th. United States revenue schooner Eagle captured 

by the boats of the British ships of war Narcissus and 

Despatch. 
" Oct. 23d. American privateer Harlequin taken by British 

man-of-war Bulwark. 
" Oct. 29th. United States steam frigate Fulton launched at 

New York. 
" Nov. 1st. British ship of war Bacchante captured American 

privateer Macdonough. 
" Nov. 8th. American privateer schooner General Putnam 

taken by the British man-of-war Leander. 
" Nov. 24th. Treaty of peace concluded at Ghent between 

Great Britain and the United States. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 343 

1814. Dec, 1st. American privateer schooner Kemp, after an 

action with nine British merchantmen, captured several. 

" Dec. 2d. British ship Granicus captured the American pri- 
vateer schooner Leo. 

" Dec. 14th. United States gun-boats on Lake Borgne, near 
New Orleans, taken by a British flotilla. 

" Dec. 24th. Peace between the United States of America 
and Great Britain signed at Ghent. 

" Dec. 27th. United States schooner Caroline destroyed by 
hot shot from British batteries at New Orleans. 

1815. Jan. 3d. British frigate Junon captured American privateer 

Guerriere. 

" Jan. 6th. An enemy's brig, laden with rum and biscuit for 
the British fleet, burned at Bayou Bienvenu, near New 
Orleans. 

" Jan. nth. British sloop of war Barbadoes captured Ame- 
rican schooner Fox. 

" Jan. 15th. Capture of United States frigate President by 
British frigates Majestic, Tenedos, Endymion and Po- 
mona. 

" Jan, 26th. American privateer Chasseur captured British 
schooner St. Lawrence. 

" Feb. 6th. The pirates of Barataria pardoned in conse- 
quence of their courage and fidelity displayed in defence 
of New Orleans. 

" Feb. 17th. Treaty of Ghent ratified by James Madison, 
president of the United States. 

" Feb. 20th. United States fiigate Constitution, Captain ^ 
Stewart, captured the Cyane and Levant, two British 
sloops of war. 

" March 3d. War declared against Algiers by the United 
States. 

" March 23d. British brig of war Penguin, 18 guns, captured 
by United States brig Hornet, 18 guns, Captain James 
Biddle ; the Penguin sunk directly after the capture. 

" June 17th, Commodore Decatur captured an Algerine 
frigate off Cape de Gatt, killing the famous Admiral Rais 
Hammida, the terror of the Mediterranean. 

" June 30th. United States sloop of war Peacock captured 
the British ship Nautilus, in the Straits of Sunda. 

•♦ June 30th. Treaty of Peace signed between the Dey of 
Algiers and Commodore Decatur on behalf of United 
States. 



9/\.88 



344 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1815. Aug. 6th. American fleet, under Decatur, arrived off Tri- 

poli. 
" Aug 9th. Treaty between Commodore Decatur, on behalf 
of United States, and the Bey of Tripoli, who restored 
all American prisoners, and made restitution for Ameri- 
can property. 

1816. May 8th. The first United States ship of the line that ever 

floated on the ocean, the Washington, 74, Commodore 

Chauncey, sailed from Boston. 
" Aug. 27th. United States schooner Firebrand attacked by 

Spanish 24 gun-ship, and two brigs of war, near Vera 

Cruz. After striking his flag the captain was allowed to 

proceed to New Orleans. 
" Dec. 25th. Treaty between United States of America and 

the Dey of Algiers. 
1819. July 15th. The first steam-vessel from America arrived in 

England. 

1826. Nov. 13th. Convention agreed on between United States 

Minister and Court of Great Britain, to indemnify in- 
juries to American commerce during the war. 

1827. Feb. 6th. The above Convention met to fix the amount 

of indemnity awarded to American subjects injured in 
the late war. 
1837. April 17th. Mexican brig of war captured by the United 
States sloop of war, Natchez, as a retaliation for the 
capture of six American vessels, illegally taken by the 
Mexicans. 
" July 18th. The ship of the line Pennsylvania, 120 guns, 
launched at Philadelphia. 



THE END. 



'& 
& 



^ 



'6" 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




011 529 600 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 529 600 



